Reinforcing their ongoing collaboration towards energy management capacity building programs, the Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (GORD) and the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) have entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the 28th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP 28) taking place in Dubai, UAE. The signing ceremony, that took place at GORD Pavilion in the Blue Zone, saw the presence of Dr. Yousef Alhorr, Founding Chairman of GORD, and AEE’s Executive Director, Bill Kent, who were joined by senior representatives from both entities. The recently signed MoU will authorize GORD to offer new courses in Qatar on behalf of AEE, while also facilitating collaborative efforts between AEE and GORD to develop novel sustainability courses on carbon and emissions management.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Dr. Yousef Alhorr, Founding Chairman of the Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD) said, “GORD has consistently been at the forefront of capacity building and knowledge dissemination programs aimed at catalyzing sustainable development. While GORD and AEE share a rich history of successful collaboration, this MoU marks a new milestone in our journey. Beyond promoting AEE's green certifications in Qatar, this agreement propels us into a new frontier as it will see us actively designing and introducing forward-looking courses in carbon and emission management, elevating the scope of our capacity building programs. To this end, we eagerly anticipate the exchange of knowledge and expertise, and together with AEE, we will develop new, relevant courses that address the ever-evolving challenges to ensure a climate-resilient future."

The recent MoU is poised to solidify GORD's role as the entity leading the Qatar Chapter of AEE. As part of this collaboration, GORD will expand its course offerings to include new AEE courses, notably the one for 50001 Certified Professional (50001 CP). The 50001 CP Program equips participants with the skills to proficiently implement the ISO 50001 standard for energy management systems within an organization. This comprehensive training ensures candidates possess the necessary technical knowledge to apply the standard competently, pragmatically, and in a professional manner.

GORD is already delivering trainings for a range of AEE’s internationally recognized professional certifications including the prestigious Certified Energy Manager (CEM) program, Certified Renewable Energy Professional (REP) program as well as the Certified Measurement & Verification Professional (CMVP) program. By expanding the course line-up available to Qatar’s energy professional, the recent MoU is aimed at elevating the nation’s collective expertise in sustainable energy management.

Beyond AEE’s existing courses, a key highlight of the recent agreement is the joint effort to develop new sustainability courses. Both organizations will actively work together to share their wealth of experience and insights, contributing to the development of innovative courses, specifically focusing on carbon management and greenhouse gas emissions accountability and measurement. This joint endeavor is especially significant in the context of expanding the horizons of environmental education, with a special emphasis on refining and advancing the understanding of energy and emissions management.

While the recent MoU represent the partnering organizations’ shared commitment to catalyze energy transition and sustainable development in the region, it also positions GORD as a leading provider of innovative training programs within Qatar.