The university’s growing international engagement, including cooperation with the African Energy Chamber (AEC), reflects efforts to extend Venezuelan energy knowledge across South America, the Caribbean and Africa as the country seeks investment and new industry partnerships.

Building Technical Capacity for Venezuela’s Energy Sector

Operating under the Ministry of Hydrocarbons, UVH provides specialist education designed to connect engineering theory with operational requirements across the oil and value chain. Its programs cover reservoir engineering, geophysics, gas production and processing, hydrocarbon process management and petrochemicals, supporting technical skills development from exploration through production and downstream processing.

The university’s applied training model connects student research with operating assets and industry requirements, including geoscientific assessments and field-based diagnostics. Its broader activities include professional certification, corporate training and research across multiple energy disciplines. These capabilities are relevant as Venezuela works to restore production, attract capital and develop the workforce required to advance complex upstream projects.

Venezuela’s hydrocarbon sector is also adapting to changes in its legal and commercial framework, with reforms intended to expand private-sector participation and create new investment opportunities. Delivering these ambitions will require engineers, geoscientists and technical personnel equipped to manage reservoirs, improve recovery rates, process gas and develop infrastructure. UVH offers an institutional platform for building that expertise.

VEW 2027 and International Energy Cooperation

At VEW 2027, UVH’s role in workforce development and technical cooperation is set to complement discussions on investment, project development and international partnerships. The event provides a platform for connecting Venezuela’s public institutions and industry stakeholders with international investors, service providers and prospective commercial partners seeking opportunities across the hydrocarbon value chain.

The university’s engagement with African counterparts adds an international dimension to that agenda. During African Energy Week 2026 in Cape Town, UVH Rector Celia Bejarano joined Venezuelan officials in presenting the country’s energy investment strategy and advancing the Africa-Venezuela Energy Partnership, supported by the AEC. The initiative creates opportunities to strengthen institutional relationships and explore technical knowledge and exchange between oil-producing countries.

“The UVH was created to deliver a specialized institution where the country can train its own recruits to develop its own premier resources," Bajarano said. “The programs are designed to upgrade the knowledge of all our engineers and geologists that have worked in the industry.”

Potential areas of cooperation include specialist training, academic exchanges and workforce development tailored to African energy projects. Venezuela’s experience in heavy-oil production and reservoir management could also inform technical exchanges with countries developing complex resources, while African partners could contribute expertise across other parts of the energy value chain.

Through its combination of technical education, applied research and international engagement, UVH can help connect Venezuela’s investment ambitions with the skills needed to deliver projects.

VEW 2027 takes place February 22–25 at the Simon Bolivar Convention Center in Caracas. Organized by Energy Capital & Power and taking place under the patronage of Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, PDVSA and the Ministry of Hydrocarbons, VEW is the country's flagship oil and gas investment platform. To register or learn more about sponsorship and speaking opportunities, visit www.venezuelaenergyweek.com.