News Releases

Two Petroleum Studies programmes at UWI get accreditation

For Release Upon Receipt - February 1, 2010

St. Augustine


Two Petroleum Studies programmes at The University of the West Indies (UWI) have recently earned accreditation from the Energy Institute (EI). This is in addition to previously earned accreditation by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) and the Geological Society of London (GSL) respectively.

 

The University’s Master of Science (MSc) in Petroleum Engineering and Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Petroleum Geoscience were awarded accreditation by the UK-based Energy Institute (EI), which has accreditation facilities for degrees for Chartered Engineering, Chartered Petroleum Engineer, Chartered Environmentalist and Chartered Science status.

 

The BSc Petroleum Geoscience at UWI became the first geological programme of any nature to be accredited outside the UK, when it was awarded accreditation by the Geological Society of London for a period of six years from March 2004, following a February 2004 visit by the President of the Society. The programme has now been re-accredited to 2016. Membership in the Geological Society of London brings many benefits, including professional recognition. Fellows are entitled to the letters FGS after their name and Chartered Geologists can add the postnominal CGeol. 

 

The MSc Petroleum Engineering at UWI has been accredited by the IOM3 for graduates entering the programme from 2004 to 2011. As a result these graduates will be able to go forward to become internationally recognised and chartered professionals by IOM3 after 4-6 years suitable experience and responsibility. Accreditation also provides peer-reviewed certification of the standard and scope of professional and scientific training offered by MSc programmes, giving universities, grant-awarding bodies and employers confidence in the value of the programme in producing well-trained graduates for employment in the geosciences. In addition, the recognition of an MSc programme by accreditation is a valuable aid for students choosing their locus of study, particularly for overseas students.

 

The EI accreditation, for graduates entering the programme from 2009 to 2013, was awarded after an official visit to The UWI to examine facilities, meet staff and students and assess against the Energy Institute criteria for accreditation. The visiting EI team met with Professor Richard Dawe, TTMC Chair in Petroleum Engineering in The UWI Chemical Engineering Department, who explained the history and organisation of the Unit and the nature of its courses. The team also met with other members of academic staff and with a selection of students.

 

A report from the visiting team described the teaching staff as “supportive and accessible” and “committed and enthusiastic, with a well developed involvement with the local and international oil and gas industry.” The report further described students as “very enthusiastic about the courses.”

 

Departments applying for accreditation must demonstrate that their programmes introduce students to the major aspects of their degree subject and specifically, that appropriate skill levels are attained in certain highlighted topics. They must also demonstrate that teaching in these subjects is carried out by appropriately qualified staff with relevant post-graduate research and/or professional experience as appropriate, and a record of continuing professional development. This applies particularly to fieldwork where the teaching of mapping skills is considered to be of very high importance.

 

For more UWI News, click http://sta.uwi.edu/news.

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About The Geological Society of London

The Geological Society of London is the recognised UK professional body for geoscientists. If you are a Fellow of the Society you can apply to have your training and experience validated so that you can use the title Chartered Geologist (and the postnominal CGeol) as a mark of professionalism. The Society is one of the bodies licensed by the Science Council to award the prestigious title of Chartered Scientist. It brings the postnominal CSci and is perhaps of most interest to those Fellows who do not feel that Chartered Geologist is the most appropriate title for them.  The Geological Society is also licensed by the European Federation of Geologists to consider and approve applications for the EurGeol title in the UK. An accredited degree can reduce the amount of experience needed to apply for Chartered Geologist and Chartered Scientist. Fellows interested in applying for Chartered Geologist or Chartered Scientist who believe or are not sure if they hold an accredited degree should check this list to confirm the status of their degree. This list includes both current and formerly accredited degree courses and shows the date range within which a student must have graduated to have an accredited degree.

About the Energy Institute, UK

The Energy Institute (EI) is the leading chartered professional membership body for those working and studying in energy. It has a combined membership of over 14,000 individuals and 300 companies across 100 countries, and provides an independent focal point and a powerful voice to engage business and industry, government, academia and the public. The EI promotes the safe, environmentally responsible and efficient supply and use of energy in all its forms and applications. In fulfilling this purpose the EI addresses the depth and breadth of energy and the energy system, from upstream and downstream hydrocarbons and other primary fuels and renewables, to power generation, transmission and distribution to sustainable development, demand side management and energy efficiency. It offers learning and networking opportunities to support career development, and EI provides a home to all those working in energy, as well as a scientific and technical reservoir of knowledge for industry.

About UWI

Over the last six decades, The University of the West Indies (UWI) has evolved from a fledgling college in Jamaica with 33 students to a full-fledged University with over 40,000 students. Today, UWI is the largest and most longstanding higher education provider in the English-speaking Caribbean, with main campuses in Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, and Centres in Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Christopher (St Kitts) & Nevis, St Lucia, and St Vincent & the Grenadines. UWI recently launched its Open Campus, a virtual campus with over 50 physical site locations across the region, serving over 20 countries in the English-speaking Caribbean. UWI is an international university with faculty and students from over 40 countries and collaborative links with over 60 universities around the world. Through its seven Faculties, UWI offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Pure & Applied Sciences, Science and Agriculture, and Social Sciences.

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