Petrobras University reopens in Bahia

Petrobras University (UP) is back in Bahia. The reopening ceremony took place this Tuesday, 26th, at the Torre Pituba Building, in Salvador, where the university’s headquarters in the state will also be located.

The company’s traditional training center, Petrobras University is responsible for training courses in the company’s various areas. Completing the courses, in addition to qualifying and qualifying the professional, is one of the prerequisites for working within Petrobras.

“Petrobras is implementing a series of actions with the aim of improving working conditions and the working environment, as well as increasing dialogue with its employees. Among the measures being adopted are the strengthening of Petrobras University, a corporate educational entity focused on training and qualifying employees, especially now with the resumption of hiring through public competitions. We also want UP to once again be a reference center for teaching, learning and knowledge management not only for Petrobras, but for the energy industry in the country.”, celebrates the president of Petrobras, Jean Paul Prates.

In Bahia, Petrobras University will occupy two floors of Torre Pituba, which was reopened in June last year. There are 131 students scheduled for the Petroleum Engineering course, starting this Wednesday (27/03), lasting 11 months, representing a historic milestone, as the first class of Petroleum Engineers in Brazil was formed in Bahia , in 1959, by the former National Center for Petroleum Improvement and Research (CENAP). In addition to these, there are 238 students on technical level courses, who are already taking classes in partnership with the National Industrial Learning Service (SENAI-CIMATEC).

In total, around a thousand newly hired Petrobras technicians began the training program to be able to effectively start their activities within the company. The action is a partnership with SENAI, involves professionals from all over the country approved in the most recent competition and is part of a national effort by the company, which will have training for teams, in addition to Bahia, also in the states of Rio Grande do Norte, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul.

“It is part of Petrobras’ DNA to be a knowledge-forming company, not only for its activities as a company, but more broadly, contributing greatly to the development of Brazilian society. It is an honor and I am very grateful to be here at this important moment when we are rebuilding Petrobras University. We will need a lot of preparation, knowledge, innovation and training to help the company with new challenges such as the energy transition”, highlighted the director of Corporate Affairs at Petrobras, Clarice Coppetti.

Cutting edge of technology

At different times, Petrobras had to train its own staff, as it did not find the necessary training in the market. This trajectory of knowledge management and learning processes in the oil and gas industry in Brazil has been going on since before the founding of Petrobras.

The former National Petroleum Council (CNP) had training professionals for the industry as one of its priorities. In 1954, the National Center for Petroleum Improvement and Research (Cenap) was founded, which was the embryo of what would become the current Petrobras University. From then on, Petrobras began to centralize teaching and research activities. From this embryo emerged the Leopoldo Américo Miguez de Mello Research, Development and Innovation Center (Cenpes), which is a global reference.

“The reopening of the Petrobras University in Bahia is another important milestone in the history of Petrobras, which reaffirms our commitment to strengthening our presence in the Northeast, transforming the region into an important investment hub. Our technical competence lies in people and we will value training and retaining knowledge and talent. Investing in continuing education is investing in our employees and in safe next steps for the company”, explained the general manager of Universidade Petrobras, Antonio Felipe Flutt.

The event was attended by the company’s president Jean Paul Prates, the director of Corporate Affairs, Clarice Coppetti, the director of Finance and Investor Relations, Sérgio Caetano Leite, and the general manager of Petrobras University, Antônio Felipe Flutt, in addition to the Secretary of Education of the State of Bahia, Adélia Pinheiro, the SENAI-CIMATEC business consultant, Miguel Andrade Filho, the employees of Torre Pituba, the students of the UP training courses in the state and representatives of the scientific community, the academic and public authorities.