MSc Course accreditation
Bill Gaskarth writes: Interest in accrediting vocational MSc courses is increasing with two more presently being assessed and statements of intent from four others.
To date, courses at Newcastle (MSc Engineering Geology, MSc Petroleum Geochemistry, MSc Environmental Consultancy, MSc Hydrogeology and Water Management), Portsmouth (Engineering Geology, MSc Geological and Environmental Hazards), Heriot Watt (Msc Petroleum Geoscience) and Manchester (MSc Petroleum Geoscience) have been accredited. Accreditation makes graduates eligible for Chartership after four years’ relevant experience (instead of five without Accreditation). Academic leaders of geoscience vocational courses are encouraged to become Chartered themselves, and so to act as professional role models for their students.
Company Training Schemes
Bill Gaskarth on a big new growth area for Society accreditation
We have now accredited training Schemes for Engineering Geologists at Atkins (UK), Arup (Hong Kong and UKMEA), Jacobs (Hong Kong), Gammon Construction (Hong Kong) and the Hong Kong Government CEDD. RPS Energy and Halcrow have recently applied to have their schemes accredited. URS has also expressed interest as have other companies and other applications are expected in the near future.
Such accreditation denotes partnership with the Society, which works with the company to ensure that their Chartership candidates apply when they are truly ready, rather than when they have merely achieved the minimum number of years’ experience (see Application problems, below). We hope that this will reduce the number of applications that have to be deferred.
Information on the procedures for MSc course Accreditation can be found on the Society’s web site or from the Accreditation Officer Colin Scrutton (
[email protected]).
Information on Company Training Schemes can also be found on the web site or by contacting the Chartership Officer Bill Gaskarth (E:
[email protected] T: 07916 138631)
Application problems
Scrutineers continue to report that many applications contain much that is not relevant, says Bill Gaskarth
Application guidance states that candidates should select documents, or parts thereof, that focus on their work and on the Chartership Criteria required to demonstrate their geoscience competency. Large quantities of irrelevant documentation are of no value to the application, waste Scrutineers’ time and give an unprofessional impression!
The 15-minute Presentation required in the Interview should focus on your best work on a project (or projects) demonstrating your skills, experience and competencies. A focus on Criteria i and ii will be of greatest interest to Scrutineers. It is not necessary to outline the fulfilment of all the Criteria in the Presentation, as they are covered in the overview document and will be raised during the Interview where required.