William Diaz-Berthiaume – October 7, 2023
Global Oil Thirst, National Academic Chill: The Enrollment Conundrum
Enrolment in petroleum-related degrees is in decline. In 2021, the University of Calgary put its bachelor’s program in oil and gas engineering on pause due to declining enrolment numbers. More recently, according to an article by Insider, “Undergrad enrollment in petroleum engineering has dropped 75% over the past 10 years.” This phenomenon is happening despite the fact, as the article points out, petroleum engineers make 40% more than computer science majors after graduation.
However, this decline in interest in oil-and-gas-related degrees across North America does not seem to follow the global trend for oil demand. In fact, by 2050, the global energy supply is projected to consist of 54% oil and natural gas. Additionally, as per Statistica, “The global demand for crude oil (including biofuels) in 2022 amounted to 99.57 million barrels per day and it is projected to increase to 101.89 million barrels per day in 2023.”
These numbers are proof that global oil and gas demand is not going away anytime soon.
The current Ukraine conflict has clearly highlighted the strategic importance of diversifying our sources of oil and gas. Overreliance on Russian oil, as President Zelenskyy himself put it during his address to the Canadian Parliament in late September, can pose significant geopolitical and economic risks.
Now, knowing that the demand is still present and continuously growing, why is enrolment in oil-related university programs drastically declining?
One must simply look at the current discussion surrounding natural resources and the energy sector in North America among young people. As Amelia, a chemical engineering student from Saskatchewan, pointed out, “many young professionals [are] hesitant to have an open conversation with me due to the simple fact that they didn’t want their opinion or thoughts being shared publicly where they could be misinterpreted while they are beginning their careers.”
“The conversation around natural resources has become extremely polarized,” Amelia stated. “I found that many views come with a “this OR that” mentality. Oil and gas OR renewables, reduce emissions OR continue resource development, where I believe the conversation should be following a “this AND that” pattern. Not only does the current OR conversation divide people, but young people are also worried about their future if they openly discuss resources. Not even a particular resource. All natural resources!”
The current narrative surrounding oil and gas is one that is unproductive and detrimental to students, Canada’s energy sector (which supports an hundreds of thousands of families from coast to coast to coast), and the environment, knowing that Canadian energy is some of the cleanest and most ethical on the planet.
We need more balanced conversations that look at a “This AND That” approach, instead of one focusing on eliminating the Canadian oil and gas sector, killing hundreds of thousands of jobs, and hurting the environment by pushing countries to become more reliant on authoritarian, regimes for natural resources. We need a conversation based on fact, like the ones previously mentioned, instead of activist talking points founded in emotions. Finally, individuals who express different points of view regarding the oil and gas sector must not be vilified by their fellow Canadians.
As long as the world needs oil and gas, shouldn’t it be Canadian?
