Professional Refugees in the UKChallenges & Solutions

Mustafa GibrilOct 2013

SudanA country rich of wealth, cultures…and troubles

Oil Curse

Background BSc in Petroleum Engineering from University

of Khartoum,2009-Petroleum Geology-Drilling ,Drilling Fluids-Production & EOR-Reservoir Engineering-Oil Refineries-Oil Gas Economics Training in Sudan oilfields Training in Syria in 2009

Assistant Field Manager at ITS-energy Services 2011

-ITS-Energy services provides drilling equipments i.e drilling jars, cementing tools, intensifiers..etc

-It also provides Fishing services in case of ( stuck of drill pipes, fall of junks inside the well ..etc)

Relocation in the UK Left Sudan in December 2011 to seek

refuge in Britain Granted Right to Abode and work

permit in May 2013 Obtained IELTS (Int. English language Testing

System) certificate in 2012. Attend several capacity building and

interview workshops

Security training (CCTV)

Volunteered with Terrence Higgins

Member of The Energy Institute

Obtained the Offshore Medical Certificate (OGUK Medical)

Will do Offshore Survival training in Aberdeen on the 7th of October.

Currently work with Allied Bakeries as a dispatch assistant

: Plan

Secure employment in the energy sector

-Shale gas revolution in the U.S created more than 600k jobs in 2010

-Britain’s Shale gas can create 73000 job in the foreseen future.

MSc in Reservoir Evaluation, University of Heriot- Watt

New country & new challenges

Disconnection from their countries, families, friends and society.

Settlement(Processing of the asylum applications) in the UK takes sometimes up to 10 years

Language barriers, integration into the new society.

Qualifications may not meet UK standards

Employers usually look for candidates who are familiar with the UK markets.

High competition, unprecedented rates of unemployment in the UK and EU.

Employment challenges:

Professional refugees start to lose touch with their profession and choose another path.

Insufficient support from the refugee Diaspora.

Media some times conveys a biased message about the immigrants .

Which sector ? Healthcare and education professionals likely

to be trained and employed by the public sector .i.e. Doctors ( IETLTS>>PLAB1>>PLAB2>>6 months attachment>>employment).

Engineering, IT, Accountants..etc professions are run mainly by the private sector i.e BP, BASF BA, Banks, Automobiles..etc that’s why a grater role is needed from this sector to address this issue.

Internships/trainings will considerably help the refugee to familiarize with the UK markets, develop their skills.

‘’ Some 830,000 graduate-level Stem experts and 450,000 technicians will be needed by 2020’’ The Royal Academy.

‘’ The UK needs to increase by as much as 50% the number of science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) graduates it is creating, a report says.’’ BBC

Professional refugees want to payback for the society by contributing to the economy.

NGOs role Many Thanks for Transitions for its

limitless and continuous support of professional refugees.

NGOs need to work under one umbrella to receive the appropriate support from the government and the society.

More and more workshops, speaking to media.

Refugees need to

Refugees need to double their effort to integrate into the society

Join to their professional bodies and benefit from membership privileges

Keep updated by reading papers, articles, magazine…etc

Volunteering is vital to develop work/personal skills.

Write to their MPs to promote professional refugees concerns

Be Positive & Optimistic

Thanks::::::::::::::::::::

Questions , Comments, Suggestions