OREANDA-NEWS. July 01, 2009. Since the beginning of 2009, OJSC "Surgutneftegas" has created 1,500 new workplaces following its occupations in demand list. As part of its human resources management policy, the Company is committed to training and refresher courses initiatives, reported the press-centre of Surgutneftegas.

"Surgutneftegas" supports higher and secondary education grant program for school graduates, holds occupational guidance sessions at schools, provides internship programs, contributes to educational institutions and improves in-house training base.

In 2008, personnel who completed their training increased by 1,500 employees to amount to 39,497 employees compared to 2007. At present, 1,791 employees study under the Company’s grant program, including 1,408 employees – at higher and 383 employees at secondary education institutions, among them 47 aboriginals of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and 12 Siberian native minorities.

The Company gives educational grants (higher and secondary) both to employees’ children, Siberian native minorities, aboriginals of Yakutia, and people who apply for the Company’s in-demand occupations.

The Company spent RUR 23.6 mn to partially cover educational costs under its grant program and plans to invest RUR 39.2 mn in 2009. In 2008, the total grant per student amounted to RUR 40,000; in 2009, it reached RUR 50,000 per student with average score of at least 4.0.

As many as 22,335 employees completed their training, refresher and skills development programs at the Company’s Polytechnic Training Center.

As of 2009, 662 employees of the Company’s business units require skills development training, including 435 employees who are to study at higher and 227 employees – at secondary educational institutions. The Company will welcome 2,430 students of 15 educational institutions as interns with over 70% of them not being involved in the Company’s grant program.

In 2008, "Surgutneftegas" training costs totaled RUR 437 mn, including RUR 135 mn spent on in-house training. Besides, we invested RUR 81 mn to develop training facilities of educational institutions. For example, the Company together with Tyumen State Oil and Gas University opened a unique training center called Neftyanik Surguta (Surgut Oil Worker) boasting five state-of-the-art laboratories on which we spent RUR 47 mn.

In 2009, the Company plans to invest in its training programs as much as in 2008 and support all education options available including distance learning, internships, workshops and training courses held outside the Company, and Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs. Almost every third employee of the Company is planned to complete a skills development course.