Details

14 March 2016

Hits: 2084

Advanced Hydrography Practical Residential Course

There are still (5) spaces available on the Advanced Hydrography Practical Residential Course starting 9 May.

• They are available to those wishing to study the topics of practical hydrography at sea, land surveying for hydrographers or updating in industry standard equipment and technology.
• We can be flexible about how much of the module is studied and the terms (course fees).

Please contact our commercial director Adam Corney at adam.corney@mla-uk.com if you want to sign in or need more information.

The Hydrographic Academy 3 week practical fieldwork Hydrographic course has been designed to provide students with an opportunity to learn, practice and demonstrate the practical skills necessary to conduct survey operations under the guidance of experienced surveyors and subject specialist academic staff.

Timetabled practical sessions take place from 09:00 to 17:00 on each day from Monday to Friday with additional, optional tutorial sessions taking place each evening.

Week 1 involves gaining hands on experience with land survey equipment and using this to undertake the essential tasks required for hydrography, such as installing horizontal and vertical control for survey operations and in carrying out the vessel dimension control survey.

Week 2 takes students onto our dedicated survey training vessel where they will gain practical experience with mobilising, calibrating and operating a range of modern hydrographic equipment and software such as multibeam echosounders, motion reference units, GNSS, sidescan sonar, magnetometer and sound velocity profilers to name only a few.

During Week 3 students spend the first half of the week working on the vessel again, but this time with the mobilisation, calibration and general operation of USBL systems, and the second half of the week in gaining valuable management and leadership training in the context of the offshore industry from dedicated professionals in this field. Students also spend time working with the data they collected during week 2 within various modern data processing software packages such as QPS QINSy, Qimera, and Fledermouse and CARIS HIPS.

In designing the course content and the practical exercises the requirements of the IHO S5 document have been central to the course content coupled with experience and knowledge of current commercial practice and equipment. The central aim of the course is to develop individuals so that they have “a practical comprehension of hydrographic surveying to enable them to carry out the various hydrographic and cartography tasks”. Once the student has completed the course, they will have an advanced level understanding of the requirements of survey, the importance of attention to detail and the practical skills that will allow them to undertake the basic functions of survey data gathering, recording, processing and presenting.

There is a supporting e-learning package that accompanies this residential module, lasting for 5 weeks before and 8 weeks after the practical session. This covers more theoretical detail and background to the land surveying techniques and maths involved. The e-learning is provided using our innovative web app and the lectures are fully supported by an academic tutor for each student.

The module takes place in Plymouth and teaching in held in the excellent new Plymouth University Marine Station on the historic waterside. Accommodation and lunch are provided within the cost.

Details

09 February 2016

Hits: 1535

An updated version of the popular ‘Hydrography for Professionals’ practical residential education course will be delivered in May this year by Plymouth-based e-learning provider The Hydrographic Academy (part of the Marine Learning Alliance - MLA).  The course is delivered several times a year in Plymouth, UK and in partnership with the University of Otago in New Zealand. 

The module is a Master’s level education qualification accredited by Plymouth University and is taught in their state-of-the-art facilities on Plymouth’s historic waterfront.  Vessel and equipment facilities are provided by a range of industry experts including Fugro, Caris, Kongsberg and Sonardyne from their base in the city.

The module is presented as the culmination of a year’s distance e-learning as part of the complete postgraduate diploma programme and allows 16 students to deploy their theoretical skills in a real-world environment supervised by academic experts and industry professionals from the Hydrographic Academy and Plymouth University. 

Dr Richard Thain, Chief Executive of MLA, the education and training arm of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), commented

 “Students come from all over the world and this year’s intake will include those from UK, Sweden, Australia, Portugal, Indonesia, Slovenia and California, USA. All students are also given membership to the IMarEST for the full duration of their studies.”

The unique ‘blended distance e-learning’ delivery method of the Hydrographic Academy allows students to remain earning in their jobs whilst using the innovative technology, professional academic tutors and hands-on experience of the latest equipment for the best possible learning.

ABOUT THE HYDROGRAPHIC ACADEMY AND MARINE LEARNING ALLIANCE

The Hydrographic Academy started as a department of Plymouth University in 2013, in response to a demand need for Master’s level professional Hydrographic education from offshore industry multinational Fugro.  Building on the global reputation for marine subjects of Plymouth University, the success of the distance e-learning programmes offered led to the venture ‘spinning out’ of the University to a limited company owned by The IMarEST and winning a Times Higher Education Award for Outstanding Employer Engagement in 2014.  The Marine learning Alliance now offers a MSc and BSc top-up in Sustainable Maritime Operations in addition to Hydrography and is currently branching out in to short e-learning courses in meteorology, oceanography, management and leadership.

For more information please contact Adam Corney, Commercial Director at adam.corney@mla-uk.com

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE OF MARINE ENGINEERING, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (IMarEST)

The IMarEST is an international membership body and learned society for all marine professionals. It is the first Institute to bring together marine engineers, marine scientists and marine technologists into one international multi-disciplinary professional body. It is the largest marine organisation of its kind with a worldwide membership of over 17,000 based in over 128 countries.

Working with the global marine community, the IMarEST promotes the scientific development of marine engineering, science and technology, providing opportunities for the exchange of ideas and practices and upholding the status, standards and expertise of marine professionals worldwide.

The IMarEST works with a growing number of corporate partners offering different levels of support to maritime organisations.  IMarEST ‘Marine Membership’ is open to all companies and organisations, providing access to membership benefits, knowledge-sharing, online promotion and exclusive

Details

05 February 2016

Hits: 1098

Dr Samantha Lavander who is an associate lecturer of MLA and responsible for the remote sensing lectures of the Hydrographic Academy programmes is presenting her brand new Practical Handbook of Remote Sensing, Thursday, February 11 at 7:30 pm at the Plymouth Athenaeum. The entry is free and there is a chance to win a free copy of the book.

Details

05 February 2016

Hits: 1248

BSM takes delivery of electronic learning

The first two modules of a suite of e-learning materials have been delivered to Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement by MLA. The modules concern Leadership & Management and Communications and are designed to help with the professional development of BSM’s Superintendents and other management staff.

These state-of-the-art, bespoke training resources are delivered by web app to smartphones and tablets so that staff can learn at a time and in a place that is most convenient to them. This allows them to gain greater skills whilst remaining productive in their day to day jobs at the same time.

The overall suite of learning materials will contain at least 10 modules covering a wide range of subjects around the maritime industry and particularly management related topics. They form part of the BSM drive to develop its staff and meet its core value of ‘Our people are essential’.

Elena Pantazidou, Director HR Shore, commented:

“I am delighted with the development of these e-learning lectures developed especially for BSM, as it allows our company to use the latest technology to improve the skills of our staff in the most efficient way.”