School of Mining and Geosciences
School of Mining and Geosciences
School of Mining and Geosciences
NEXT-GENERATION ENERGY SKILLS FOR OIL & GAS PROFESSIONALS
An 8-Week Micro-Credential Program by Nazarbayev University
Elevate Your Expertise. Advance Your Career.
Elevate Your Expertise. Advance Your Career.
An executive-style program for engineers and energy professionals who want to combine deep oil and gas expertise with knowledge of the energy transition and modern digital decision-making skills.
Key information:
An 8-Week Micro-Credential Program by Nazarbayev University
100+
hours of guided learning
25
hours per week
3
courses
Program Overview
The energy sector is changing rapidly.
Oil and gas professionals are increasingly expected to understand decarbonization, low-carbon subsurface technologies, energy markets, and digital workflows in addition to traditional engineering fundamentals. This program is built to help participants stay relevant, expand their capabilities, and lead confidently in the next phase of the industry.
Quick Facts
This micro-credential program equips professionals with essential technical knowledge and applied skills in:
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Format:Hybrid -
Application deadline:1 September 2026 -
Language:English -
Duration:8 weeks -
Instruction:Lectures with practical exercises and case studies -
Expected start:September 2026 -
Workload:Approx. 25 hours per week -
Instruction:Lectures with practical exercises and case studies -
Assessment:Final assessment in each course
Why Choose This Micro-Credential?
Our program is designed with working professionals in Petroleum Engineering. Here’s what sets it apart:
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Flexible Learning Format- Hybrid delivery: Combine the convenience of online learning with optional in-person workshops.
- Evening classes allow you to balance study with work commitments.
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Multilingual Support- Accessible for professionals from Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and beyond.
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University Recognition- Earn a Micro-Credential Certificate from Nazarbayev University’s School of Mining and Geosciences — a recognized leader in petroleum education.
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Pathway to Master’s Degree- Accumulate 18 ECTS credits that can be transferred toward a Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering at NU (within 5 years and subject to eligibility).
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Industry-Relevant Curriculum- Developed with input from major petroleum companies.
- Case studies connected to the real energy sector challenges
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Taught by ExpertsLearn from leading faculty and industry practitioners in the fields of petroleum engineering. -
Boost Your Career- Gain practical, interdisciplinary knowledge that enhances your problem-solving and decision-making skills.
- Ideal for professionals seeking promotions, specialization, or a career shift within the petroleum sector.
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Networking Opportunities- Engage with a diverse cohort of professionals across the petroleum sectors.
- Access potential field visits, case competitions, and collaborative projects with industry partners.
Program Structure and Cost
Master’s-Level Curriculum | 18 ECTS | Hybrid Format | 1 ECTS $267
Course Description:
This course provides a comprehensive overview of modern energy systems, integrating petroleum engineering fundamentals with energy geology, renewable energy, and global energy markets. It examines energy policy, regulatory frameworks, and project economics so participants can understand how technical decisions are shaped by commercial and policy realities.
Indicative topics:
This course provides a comprehensive overview of modern energy systems, integrating petroleum engineering fundamentals with energy geology, renewable energy, and global energy markets. It examines energy policy, regulatory frameworks, and project economics so participants can understand how technical decisions are shaped by commercial and policy realities.
Indicative topics:
- Introduction to next-generation required skills
- Foundation of petroleum engineering
- Renewable energy for oil & gas experts
- Basics of geology for energy systems
- Energy policy
- Markets and project economics
Course Description:
This course focuses on the technologies and strategies driving the global energy transition and their relevance to oil and gas professionals. Participants explore key pathways such as CCUS, geothermal energy, hydrogen systems, gas storage, and methane management, with a strong emphasis on adapting established petroleum skills to emerging low-carbon opportunities.
Indicative topics:
This course focuses on the technologies and strategies driving the global energy transition and their relevance to oil and gas professionals. Participants explore key pathways such as CCUS, geothermal energy, hydrogen systems, gas storage, and methane management, with a strong emphasis on adapting established petroleum skills to emerging low-carbon opportunities.
Indicative topics:
- Global energy transition landscape
- Geothermal energy for petroleum engineers
- Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS)
- Hydrogen systems and subsurface storage
- Methane emissions
Course Description:
This course introduces data analytics and machine learning methods tailored to subsurface energy applications. It combines foundational concepts with practical casework so participants can apply data-driven approaches to reservoir characterisation, production optimisation, and broader energy system analysis.
Indicative topics:
This course introduces data analytics and machine learning methods tailored to subsurface energy applications. It combines foundational concepts with practical casework so participants can apply data-driven approaches to reservoir characterisation, production optimisation, and broader energy system analysis.
Indicative topics:
- Introduction to data analytics and machine learning
- Data preprocessing and feature engineering
- Supervised and unsupervised learning methods
- ML applications in reservoir and production engineering
- Case studies in energy and geoscience applications
Delivered via online modules with optional in-person workshops, the program allows flexibility for busy professionals.
Sample practical applications
- CO2 Storage Optimization in Depleted ReservoirsExample of how technical modeling, storage strategy, and transition-focused decision-making can intersect in practice.
- Machine Learning for Production Forecasting in Mature FieldsExample of data-driven decision support for improved performance evaluation and planning in established assets.
What participants will gain
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A broad understanding of modern energy systems, energy geology, policy, and project economics - Digital capabilities in analytics and machine learning for subsurface and energy applications
- Practical insight into carbon capture, geothermal systems, hydrogen and gas storage, and methane management
- A sharper ability to evaluate projects and support strategic decisions in a changing energy landscape
Faculty
Dean / Professor
Expert in advanced wells, decarbonization, reservoir simulation, enhanced oil recovery, and rock-fluid interactions. Prof. Hazlett joined NU in 2019 after a long research and innovation career spanning Mobil, startup R&D, and academia. He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin.
Expert in advanced wells, decarbonization, reservoir simulation, enhanced oil recovery, and rock-fluid interactions. Prof. Hazlett joined NU in 2019 after a long research and innovation career spanning Mobil, startup R&D, and academia. He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin.
Acting Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and Research / Professor
Specialist in EOR, CO2 storage, reservoir engineering, and production engineering. He earned his PhD in Petroleum Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and has led academic and industrial projects in the United States, Iran, Oman, and Kazakhstan, with more than 160 publications.
Specialist in EOR, CO2 storage, reservoir engineering, and production engineering. He earned his PhD in Petroleum Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and has led academic and industrial projects in the United States, Iran, Oman, and Kazakhstan, with more than 160 publications.
Dr. Masoud Riazi
Associate Professor
Petroleum engineering scholar with more than 12 years of international industry experience across Kazakhstan, the UK, Iran, China, and Colombia. He has authored 350+ publications and patents, supervised numerous graduate students, and has been recognized among the world’s top 2% scientists.
Petroleum engineering scholar with more than 12 years of international industry experience across Kazakhstan, the UK, Iran, China, and Colombia. He has authored 350+ publications and patents, supervised numerous graduate students, and has been recognized among the world’s top 2% scientists.
Dr. Mahmoud Lotfy
Assistant Professor
Researcher focused on natural hydrogen exploration, subsurface CO2 sequestration and mineral trapping, and petroleum and geothermal resources. He holds a PhD from the University of Geneva and has over 15 years of academic and industry experience, including work on natural hydrogen systems in Kazakhstan and globally.
Researcher focused on natural hydrogen exploration, subsurface CO2 sequestration and mineral trapping, and petroleum and geothermal resources. He holds a PhD from the University of Geneva and has over 15 years of academic and industry experience, including work on natural hydrogen systems in Kazakhstan and globally.
Dr. Shams Kalam
Assistant Professor
Petroleum engineer and data scientist with expertise in machine learning, data science, reservoir simulation, CO2 and H2 geo-storage, geothermal energy, and advanced hydrocarbon recovery. He has over 12 years of experience, 75+ publications, 5 U.S. patents, and is recognized among the world’s top 2% scientists.
Petroleum engineer and data scientist with expertise in machine learning, data science, reservoir simulation, CO2 and H2 geo-storage, geothermal energy, and advanced hydrocarbon recovery. He has over 12 years of experience, 75+ publications, 5 U.S. patents, and is recognized among the world’s top 2% scientists.
Dr. Mian Shafiq
Assistant Professor
Reservoir engineering specialist with 15+ years of academic and industry experience. His work spans acidizing, cementing, enhanced oil recovery, CO2 storage, hydrogen storage, machine learning, reservoir simulation, geopolymers, and drilling mud design. He holds a PhD from Curtin University, Australia.
Reservoir engineering specialist with 15+ years of academic and industry experience. His work spans acidizing, cementing, enhanced oil recovery, CO2 storage, hydrogen storage, machine learning, reservoir simulation, geopolymers, and drilling mud design. He holds a PhD from Curtin University, Australia.
Certification & Career Pathway
Upon successful completion, participants receive:
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Micro-Credential CertificateA Micro-Credential Certificate from the School of Mining and Geosciences -
Master’s Degree in Petroleum EngineeringRecognition of 18 ECTS that may be applied toward a Master’s Degree in Petroleum Engineering at NU (within 5 years, subject to eligibility)
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum, or related fields
- Minimum 2 years of industry experience
- Language required – English
Altynay Kazhkenova
General Manager for Admissions
Academic affairs and industry relations
Academic affairs and industry relations
Our Contacts
Feel free to write, call, and visit us
General questions
Peyman Pourafshary
Professor
Professor
Altynay Kazhkenova
Admissions, Academic affairs and industry relations
Admissions, Academic affairs and industry relations
Our Location
Nazarbayev University
Block 6, Floor 2
Qabanbay Batyr Ave 53
Astana, Kazakhstan
Block 6, Floor 2
Qabanbay Batyr Ave 53
Astana, Kazakhstan