Accreditation officer Bill Gaskarth hails record numbers of applications and validations
A record number of 37 fellows were validated as CGeol at the September meeting of Council, along with four Chartered Scientists (CSci) of whom one also attained CGeol and another was a retrospective application (following CGeol). In addition to this 11 CGeols, who had been previously validated, became EurGeols.
Applications remain buoyant, with 40 received to date for this month’s (November) interviews in Glasgow and London. This puts increased load on the present panel of Scrutineers, and experienced CGeols are invited to apply to join the panel (www.geolsoc.org.uk/scrutineers).
The new application route for Fellows with 20+ years’ experience is proving popular and some 15 becoming Chartered to date with a further six applications received. The applications have come from a variety of sectors of the profession – Oil and Gas, Mineral Exploration, Academia, Engineering Geology. These senior geologists will be role models for early career geologists in their workplace and will help the Society promote the professional titles of CGeol and CSci.
MSC ACCREDITATION
The Petroleum Geology MSc at Imperial College is the latest course to be accredited. Students graduating from this course will be eligible to apply for CGeol after four years’ professional experience.
Accreditation of the University of Derby’s MSc in Applied Petroleum Geoscience was reported in the previous issue. The University has since press-released the achievement, saying that recognition by an ‘independent body of academics and industrialists’ will be reassuring to students, and advertising the fact that an accredited degree is the first stage towards professional qualifications. More applications for MSc course accreditation are expected shortly.
COMPANY TRAINING SCHEMES
We have received an application for accreditation URS for its Training Scheme. At present schemes from RPS Energy, RSK and CH2MHill (Halcrow) are under review by the Professional Committee, and others are invited. Such accreditation fosters partnership between company and Society, and helps early career geologists prepare for Chartership.
NEED A MENTOR?
Jana Horak (National Museum of Wales) writes: Could you benefit from the experience of a mentor in preparing for chartership? The Society is re-launching its Mentoring Scheme to support chartership candidates for both CGeol and CSci. This service will particularly valuable to those embarking on chartership who do not have access to a mentor through work.
A mentor can help you evaluate your development needs to fulfil the chartership requirements and work with you to draft an effective Development Plan. The mentoring process underpins submission of strong chartership applications, based on adequate and appropriate skills, knowledge and experience to demonstrate the required competencies. There are also benefits in becoming a mentor, as it provides the opportunity to share knowledge and experience to help others develop and progress. Mentoring is a recognised form of CPD.
- If you are interested in obtaining or becoming a mentor, please contact Janine Benn E: [email protected] T: 020 7434 9944.