TWO Petroleum Studies programmes at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine, recently earned accreditation from the Energy Institute.

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, 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,” said a release from the university.

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 four to six 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 Energy Institute 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 Energy Institute team met with Professor Richard Dawe, head of Petroleum Studies at UWI, St Augustine, 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 postgraduate 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.