Hydrographic Academy Update

“The course syllabus looks great! I can't wait to sign up for the first introductory course. Establishing the Hydrographic Academy is a great initiative!”

This was the response from one current employee in the hydrographic surveying industry on seeing the content of the trial module which has been developed by a team at Plymouth University with support from the Royal Navy, and Fugro (a large employer in the sector) as part of a HE STEM South West project.

This project involves using some of the latest concepts and technology in distance and online learning to develop a suite of transferable learning materials that will meet the training and education needs of the hydrographic surveying industry.  The materials developed will allow employees to undertake HE-level professional development despite long periods off shore and changing working patterns.  The modular course will also provide school leavers with a much needed work-based learning route into the industry.  There are 13 students registered to start on the first 10 credit trial module before the end of the year, and a further 35 signed up for April next year.     

There has been a series of very encouraging meetings with the professional accreditation bodies recently including The International Hydrographic Organisation, The Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors and The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology who have been impressed with the materials that have been produced to date, and are keen to work with the team to ensure that these meet their requirements.

There has also been significant interest in the Hydrographic Academy's plans from organisations around the world with enquiries coming from as far afield as the USA, Australia and New Zealand. 

The official launch of the Hydrographic Academy will take plan at Oceanology International in London in March 2012.

For updates on this project see http://hydrographicacademy.blogspot.com/ or for further reading see the projects page here