Albert Cooper among few selected for Fluor 1 millionn Externship Program with University of Houston

22 April 2017 / Berenice Mulubah 

Fluor-UH Industrial Construction Management Education Partnership

In 2016, Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR), one of the world's leading Engineering Procurement, Fabrication and Construction company, announced that its philanthropic organization, the Fluor Foundation, presented $1 million to the University of Houston (UH) College of Technology to establish the Fluor-UH Industrial Construction Management Education Partnership, focusing on research and professional development. The partnership supports implementation of a Work-Integrated Education Program, which integrates industry-best approaches and project examples into the curriculum. Through the program, students obtain a unique skill set and perspective by developing solutions to real-world construction challenges in the classroom, gaining valuable industry experience.

In it's second year partnership with University of Houston, few students were selected to participate in the externship program, including Albert Cooper from Liberia.   

"Do what you loved, because you have the passion for it. And most importantly, never give up on yourself." Albert Cooper

Albert is a soon to be graduate from the University of Houston, majoring in Construction Management. He had no prior experience when he decided to major in construction.  Albert worked on several projects such as wastewater treatment, industrial construction, demolition, and renovation. Albert explained,  "I decided to majored in Construction Management, because I'm more of a visual and hands on person, but most importantly I have a strong passion for building things and I want to contribute to society and the environment we live in. I want to change or contribute to the deteriorating infrastructure of third world countries most especially Liberia. I want to travel the world and work with people who have the same passion as me, Changing the lives of others. I am early in my career and I'm still learning from all types of professionals and I plan to continue. You know growing up I always wonder why things were built a certain way. I wonder why buildings and roads were cracking in my neighborhood. Few years later, this major provided me the answers. It's simply because of differential settlement and poorly designed structural. Who knew? But my passion is what fuels me. It drives me in deep cogitation."