Shell hosts innovative workshop for UNIC engineer undergrads

The Department of Engineering at the University of Nicosia (UNIC), in collaboration with Shell PLC, held the NXplorers Pro Workshop for a group of highly-motivated engineering students on November 17, 2023. The all-day workshop provided an immersive and transformative experience for participants, equipping them with skills necessary for a successful career.

Through a hands-on, team-based approach, engineering students embarked on a journey from complex problems to sustainable solutions, that included: defining and exploring real-world issues, uncovering root causes and leverage points, envisioning multiple futures and shaping a preferred one, and transforming ideas into lasting change.

Throughout the workshop, the students worked in teams to develop actionable strategies for positive impact, demonstrating their ability to apply the skills and knowledge gained to real-world problems. The workshop fostered a collaborative learning environment, encouraging participants to share ideas, perspectives and expertise. The NXplorers Pro Workshop envisions serving as a catalyst for change, empowering participants to become active agents in shaping a better future. By providing a platform for learning, collaboration, and action, the workshop nurtured the next generation of changemakers, equipped with the skills and mindset to tackle today’s challenges, creating a more sustainable and equitable world.

Workshop instructor Tariq Hussain is currently the Head of Shell’s NXplorers Programme. He developed and led the rollout across 20 countries as a social impact initiative. He also developed Shell NXplorers Pro, an Innovation Excellence learning experience for Shell staff and partners, to help them develop their Systems and Scenario Thinking skills.

Hussain spent 20 years as a chemical engineer in the oil and gas industry, working across several sectors. He is a well-esteemed expert in dynamic process simulation and was elected as a Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineers. His vision has transformed the initiative into a global force, empowering young minds with the tools they need to learn how to deal with complexity, to learn how to ask the right questions, to develop a collaborative mindset to tackle real world complex challenges.

“I want to thank the University of Nicosia for organising and inviting me to deliver the NXplorers workshop,” said Hussain, following the event. “It was so much fun, and really great to see the spirit of collaboration and passion from the engineering students as they explored complex, interesting challenges, and created ideas for change.”

Workshop participants were left delighted. “The workshop was an incredible experience that transformed my perspective on problem-solving and change-making,” said Sofya Fedkina, a senior Electrical Engineering student. “It provided me with the tools and mindset to tackle complex issues head-on, and I feel empowered to make a positive impact on the world.”

For his part, Department of Engineering head, Dr Stelios Neophytou, noted that: “the NXplorers workshop is a shining example of our department’s commitment to fostering innovation and empowering the next generation of changemakers”.

“The workshop’s hands-on, team-based approach provided participants with the skills and mindset to tackle complex challenges and create sustainable solutions,” he continued. “We are grateful to the workshop’s instructor and his team, and I am confident that their efforts will have a lasting impact on our students and beyond.”