Aberdeen launches world’s first Masters degree for Energy to fuel the sector skills gap
From September 2012, the world’s first Masters degree for the Energy industry will be available to students at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. In an attempt to address the growing skills gap in the prospering Energy industry, particularly for oil, gas and renewables expertise, Robert Gordon University launches a new Masters degree, MSc Commercial Practice for the Energy Sectors, which has achieved endorsement from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). It is the world’s first qualification at this level to be created through direct contribution and collaboration with energy industry experts including Energy North and the Oil and Gas UK Supply Chain Directorate for all it’s modules and is have been developed to create technical expertise coupled with management skills within the oil and gas industries. It is the only UK university option to focus solely on the commercial and management aspects of the energy sector.
Gerard Buda, Postgraduate Programme Leader at the School, comments:
“The relevance of surveying and commercial management skills to the heavy engineering, petrochemical and offshore industries has increased in recent years. Many energy professionals with relevant technical industry experience are looking to develop essential commercial skills including risk management and supply chain vulnerability in order to enhance their current careers or following a change in job role.
“It is vital that leading educational institutions such as Robert Gordon University teach the skills and expertise that are highly relevant to an industry that is set to continue as the leading source of energy in the UK.”
With this sector only one of a few industries experiencing high growth in a downturn, it will be interesting to follow the fortunes of the courses first graduates and see which other universities will follow suit.
