Penspen Marks International Women in Engineering Day 2021 with Inspiring Messages to Future Experts

Leading international energy company Penspen has put its female graduates in the spotlight on International Women in Engineering Day as it recognises the importance of their role within the organisation ­– today and in the future.

Taking place annually on June 23, International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) provides a call to women to shape the world, something Reem Alsbakhi and her fellow graduates are aiming to do.

Reem, one of the first women to take part in Penspen’s Emirati Graduate Training Programme, which launched last year, said the scheme has helped open her eyes to the world of engineering and business, and encouraged other young females to follow their dreams, just like she did.

She said: “I chose engineering as a career as it was a childhood passion of mine, and it was something my family encouraged me to do given my enthusiasm and interest. Being surrounded by good, supportive people at Penspen, as well as having the opportunity to learn new things and handle new responsibilities every day, has been extremely valuable.

“I’m looking forward to increasing my knowledge and experience in both engineering and management with the aim of being a successful project manager one day. Women play an important role in engineering, and to anyone interested in a career in the industry, I would say go for it! Who says wearing a safety helmet is for men only?”

Along with supporting the women who are working dedicatedly in our workforce, we have initiated our graduate programme for female interns.

Since launching in 2020, Penspen’s Graduate Training Programme in the Middle East, has led to six graduates being employed full-time. The company also has an enviable track record in welcoming interns across various departments around the world, with five of the six current interns being female.

Zafar Bernard Ikram, Engineering Manager – MEA Region, said: “Penspen is committed to providing equal opportunities for all and offering a working environment free from all kinds of discrimination. Our team consists of talented engineers who are given equal opportunities regardless of their gender. In a predominantly male field, we choose to encourage and support women who pursue engineering as a career. Along with supporting the women who are working dedicatedly in our workforce, we have initiated our graduate programme for female interns.

“Graduates come with a high level of passion and determination to succeed, which makes it easier for us to equip them with the skills we need in our personnel. Our focus is on technical excellence while promoting collaboration and empowerment so that we can retain our graduates for a long-term and help them have a successful career.”

Graduate Mechanical Engineer Reem Mohsin Rashed Saad Seed said she chose a career in engineering as it shows the power of science and the difference it can make to the world.

She added: “To be a successful woman, you should be willing to learn from professional people in the field and focus on your goals and work hard to achieve it. Engineering plays an important role in improving the world, with creative thinking helping to advance technology. International Women in Engineering Day is an occasion to show how women can play an important role in making a difference in the world.”

International Women in Engineering Day is an occasion to show how women can play an important role in making a difference in the world.

Junior Graduate Trainee Process Engineer Farmeena Zulfikher said Penspen’s programme helped graduates regardless of their gender. She said: “Getting hands-on experience while being in further education college really helps in appreciating what skillsets are required. Penspen has aided me in my overall development both professionally and technically. It has helped me to gain a head start in my career because of the industry exposure that I have gained here.

“Even though there are more women in engineering, there is still opportunity for gender equality in the sector. Throughout my internship, it was exciting to finally apply and understand what I had learned as an undergraduate in the projects that I had been involved in.”

Penspen’s Emirati Graduate Training Programme is open for applications. Visit www.penspen.com for more information.