The project was recently awarded funding from Qatar Foundation and last week a kick-off meeting was arranged in Qatar. Seven students from QU will take part in the project where three of the students are qataris. The kick-off meeting included presentations of aluminium production at MTU, a visit to Qatalum including the electrolysis, the anode plant, the Casthouse and the laboratory as well as a hands-on session at the MTU metallurgy laboratory on aluminium sample preparation under supervision of experienced technicians from NTNU and QU.
The overall aim of the project is to enhance the specific competence relevant to the aluminium industry in Qatar. The topics of the project activities for the 7 students are on foundry alloys and extrusion billets and the upcoming challenges regarding increased levels on critical trace elements. Hydro and Qatalum experts will act as supervisors for the students together with personnel from QU and NTNU. In this respect it should also be mentioned that NTNU and QU, last December, signed a MoU supported by Qatalum and Hydro. This MoU is the first agreement ever between NTNU and an regional university with the ambition to educate Masters' students for future recruitment to Qatalum.
Signing of agreement: Pro-rector Prof.Johan
Hustad (NTNU) and vice-rector Dr. Sheikha Bint Jabor Al-Thani (QU).
