RGU launches new courses ahead of Offshore Europe 2023

The four new courses, Hydrogen Energy Systems, Geothermal Energy and Applications, Wind Energy Systems, and Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage provide technical knowledge and skills on production, business development and the importance of the energy transition and the move away from traditional energy sources. The courses can either be used by new entrants to the sector or for people transitioning from oil and gas.

A number of places on the 10 -week online courses will be provided free of charge, funded through the Scottish Funding Council Upskilling Fund and the Scottish Government Just Transition Fund, through The National Energy Skills Accelerator (NESA). The courses carry 15 credits of academic award which can be accumulated towards a degree award.

Upskilling short courses are designed to address the skills needs of businesses and individuals in Scotland. The courses are suitable for individuals seeking employment options and organisations wishing to upskill or reskill their employees.

The NESA, a collaborative initiative between RGU, University of Aberdeen and NESCol, and supported by ETZ and SDS, has identified skills gaps that will need to be addressed to achieve Scotland’s ambitions towards a low carbon economy. Upskilling courses in Hydrogen, Offshore Wind, CCUS and Geothermal have been identified as having the potential to bridge the gap by harnessing the transferable skills of the oil and gas industry workforce.

In addition to the courses, the University is launching a free introductory two-hour Insights programme to provide background information to people who are working in energy, who are concerned about the future and asking the question, ‘what does the energy transition mean for me?’

The courses are being informed by work done by RGU’s Energy Transition Institute which offers important analysis into the energy sector’s future and the role its businesses and staff have to play in the energy transition. The National Subsea Centre (NSC), RGU's Centre of Excellence for subsea research and technology development, is also making real progress through its work on the Data for Net Zero (D4NZ) project. D4NZ will deliver the world’s first Smart Energy Basin by utilising an integrated suite of data science, visualisation and modelling tools.

Donella Beaton, Vice-Principal for Economic Development at RGU, comments: “RGU has a strong track record of working in partnership with companies and supporting the economy and we are delighted to be joining some of them at Offshore Europe 2023.

“RGU is among the leading voices when it comes to the future shape of the sector as we move towards a successful energy transition. We know this cannot be achieved in isolation, so it is of vital importance that we engage with industry partners and being at P&J Live alongside other businesses operating in the sector is a fantastic opportunity.

“RGU’s energy transition upskilling courses are the University’s professional response to the needs of the energy industry to help equip workforces with the knowledge and confidence to grasp the opportunities that the energy transition will inevitably bring in the coming years.

“We hope our courses will be of value to anyone with an interest in the energy transition regionally and nationally whether they are new to the sector, transitioning or needing reassurance in their existing jobs.”

Offshore Europe, which is now in its 50th year, is an opportunity for the energy industry to come together and share innovative ideas, insights, and opportunities.

Professor Paul de Leeuw, Director of RGU’s Energy Transition Institute, Professor John McCall, Director of NSC and Donella Beaton, Vice Principal for Economic Development will be taking part in an event entitled The UKCS offshore energy workforce – the next (r)evolution? on Wednesday 6 September between 10.30am and 11.30am at the Scotland Pavilion at stand 2K40. Professor de Leeuw will introduce RGU’s new workforce visibility tool and will discuss what needs to be done to set the future UK offshore energy workforce up for success