AN ELECTRIFYING GRADUATION AT SOUTH TYNESIDE COLLEGE

The first students have graduated on South Tyneside Colleges pioneering Electro Technical Officer Cadetship course, following three years of study.

The first students have graduated on South Tyneside Colleges pioneering Electro Technical Officer Cadetship course, following three years of study.

Founded in 1999, the course meets a requirement for skilled personnel in the maritime industry, trained in the repair and maintenance of radio equipment, bridge systems and electronic navigation systems, combined with an engine watchkeeping certificate.

Working with the Merchant Navy Training Board, the College developed the three-year course to meet the needs of a number of training clients, including Maersk, Clyde Marine and Trinity House. In addition to the requisite marine qualifications, successful students have also emerged with a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Marine Engineering and an NVQ Level III, both recognised qualifications which can lead to further training opportunities in the future.

During the course, cadets spend most of the time at sea, putting into practise the skills taught during their time at the College. During this time, they produce reports on their progress which are used in their assessment for the course. This vocational system means that graduates have already gained a significant amount of practical seagoing experience.

Roger Johnson, head of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the College, said: This is an excellent result for these cadets, the culmination of three years hard work at the College and at sea. The course was developed in 1999 to meet the needs of our training clients and it has been an amazing success, with 2002 seeing a record number of cadets enrolling."

Designated as the UKs National Nautical Centre for Excellence, South Tyneside College works constantly to ensure that its courses meet the training requirements of clients in the marine and offshore industries. Existing courses are reviewed on a regular basis, while new ones can be introduced where a need is identified, as with the Electro Technical Officer Cadetship.

Roger Johnson added: As demonstrated by this course, and its subsequent success, the College maintains excellent links with industry bodies and with training clients to ensure that it remains at the cutting edge of modern training methods."

For further information on the Electro Technical Officer Cadetship or any other maritime courses at South Tyneside College, call the Information Centre 0n (0191) 427 3900 or visit www.stc.ac.uk.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of South Tyneside College by Robson Brown Public Relations

For more information contact:

Marine

Aston Bowles on (0191) 244 6663
Email: astonb@robson-brown.co.uk
OR
Rob Lawson on (0191) 244 6662
Email: robl@robson-brown.co.uk   

General

Lesley Gosling on (0191) 244 6658
Email: lesleyg@robson-brown.co.uk
OR
Liz Simpson on (0191) 244 6659
Email: lizs@robson-brown.co.uk

South Tyneside College
School of Maritime Studies & Engineering

South Tyneside College is among the worlds premier institutions for the provision of marine and offshore training. The College, based at South Shields in the UK, offers tailored courses for deck, engineering and electrical personnel, including full safety training facilities. Around 5,000 students each year attend the School of Maritime Studies & Engineering, with around 50% coming from overseas, representing 74 countries around the world. Staff are recruited from specialist sectors within the marine industry, bringing with them the knowledge and experience needed to ensure the highest standards of teaching. Companies who use the College for training include BP, Shell, P&O Princess Cruises, P&O Nedlloyd, Maersk, Clyde Marine and a large number of companies from the Arabian Gulf and the Far East.