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The Postgraduate Certificate in Pipeline Integrity Management: An On-line Distance Learning Academic Programme assisting Education of the Next Generation of Pipeline Engineers . M Unger, Knowledge and Training Manager Penspen Ltd., UK August 2012. Presentation Objectives.
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The Postgraduate Certificate in Pipeline Integrity Management:An On-line Distance Learning Academic Programme assisting Education of the Next Generation of Pipeline Engineers M Unger, Knowledge and Training Manager Penspen Ltd., UK August 2012
Presentation Objectives • Explain the history and motivation for the development of the new Postgraduate Certificate in Pipeline Integrity Management. • Share testimonials and press releases during the first year of the programme. • Present the benefits and aims of the programme. • Show the programme content, and specific learning outcomes. • Present an overview of the future developments for this programme.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Pipeline Integrity Management: Summary • Penspen Ltd. teamed up with Northumbria University to offer a Postgraduate Certificate in Pipeline Integrity Management. • This academic programme addresses the known and quantified skills shortage in the oil and gas business, and the urgent need to provide education and training to a number of its sectors, including pipeline engineering. • The programme is fully accredited and has successfully welcomed 30 students in the first year of delivery. • The postgraduate certificate is delivered via online distance learning offering flexibility, and reaching all corners of the globe. • The programme is continually being developed and updated to meet the new trends in modern education.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Pipeline Integrity Management: Backgroundground • A recent review of training needs in the pipeline industry* concluded that there is a labor and skills crisis in the oil and gas sector, and there are very limited formal education and training courses for pipeline engineers. It suggests that the industry and universities must work together to attract young people to tailored courses that satisfy skill shortages. • Industry must take the lead and invest in universities willing and able to offer pipeline engineering education. • Penspen Ltd., are recognised as world leaders in pipeline engineering training. *P Hopkins, ‘The Skills Crisis in the Pipeline Sector of the Oil and Gas Business’,Journal of Pipeline Engineering. 2008.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Pipeline Integrity Management: The Start • Penspen approached Northumbria University and enquired about partnering on a distance learning initiative for Master level courses in pipeline engineering. • The Postgraduate Certificate in Pipeline Integrity Management was launched in June 2011. • The programme resides in the School of Computing, Engineering and Information Sciences.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Pipeline Integrity Management: The Launch • The programme was launched on 15th June 2011 at Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK Penspen's Professor Phil Hopkins and Northumbria's Professor Ian Postlethwaite at the launch.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Pipeline Integrity Management: The Launch* *Taken from Penspen Intranet.
Press Releases: ‘Penspen Teams up with Northumbria University...’ Click here to see full article
Press Releases: ‘Penspen and Northumbria Uni provide...’ Click here to see full article
Press Releases: ‘Integrity in Education’ Click here to see full article
Press Releases: ‘Certify your Pipeline Integrity Management...’ Click here to see full article
Press Releases: ‘The Skills Crisis: Can we wait?’ Click here to see full article
Press Releases: ‘Penspen teams up with Northumbria...’ Click here to see full article
Press Releases: ‘Bespoke Postgraduate Qualifications...’ Click here to see full article
Press Releases: ‘PCG Pipeline Integrity Management...’ Click here to see full article
Press Releases:‘... Distance Learning exceeds all expectations’ *Taken from Penspen Intranet.
The Benefits: Industry Relevance • The modules on this Postgraduate Certificate have been developed and produced by professional engineers at Penspen, with extensive experience of pipeline engineering. • The modules are both up-to-date, and relevant to the pipeline industry today. • Most of the classes are delivered by practicing pipeline engineers: this allows the students to share past and contemporary experiences with the lecturers.
The Benefits: To the Students • Flexible education programmes offer the opportunity to attend short courses, which in the long term will lead to a formal degree. • Students will be able to study from their workplace, or home, anywhere in the world, without having to leave their full time jobs. • There is no long term economic commitment, as students do not need to enroll for a full time degree course. • International students can gain a qualification from a university in the UK, even when they are not able to come to the UK to attend a formal course.
The Benefits: Primary Benefits to the Industry • The prime responsibility of an engineer is safety (to people and the environment). This certificate covers pipeline ‘integrity’. The focus is safety. • Safety • Open Access to the Developing World • This academic programme addresses the known and quantified skills shortage in the oil and gas business, and the urgent need to provide education and training to a number of its sectors, including pipeline engineering. • Skills Shortage • Pipeline companies are now able to educate, and assess the competencies of their staff, who will obtain a degree accredited to university standards. This will allow the industry to have competent engineers ensuring public safety, and environmental protection is a top priority for all their activities. • Staff Competencies in the Industry • Our future engineers will want to learn using their iPads, social networks, etc., and want learning to fit into their life’s schedules. They will want instant access, when they want it, where they want it. This on-line, internet-based learning programme has been designed for this future. • It is aimed at the Future
The Benefits: Other Benefits • E-learning via the internet allows all students (in the developed world and developing world) to participate and gain essential skills for the pipeline industry. The certificate has no international boundaries in its delivery, and no barriers to participation. • Open Access to the Developing World • Professional bodies such as ASME or IMechE require its members to be ‘up-to-date’ and manifestly competent. This certificate will satisfy these requirements, but – more important – the certificate is examined, to ensure this competency. • Satisfy Professional Body Requirements • Accreditation and Quality Assurance • The certificate is quality assured and accredited by a UK university. All students are examined. Therefore, the pipeline industry can be assured that any student successfully completing the certificate will have gained both in knowledge and competency.
The Benefits: Accreditation • The Postgraduate Certificate is a Master level programme within the UK Framework for Higher Education Qualifications. • The FHEQ describes all the main higher education qualifications. • It applies to degrees, diplomas, certificates and other academic awards granted by a university or higher education college. Accredited Quality Assured Examined
The Benefits: Masters Level Postgraduate Certificate in Pipeline Integrity Management
The Aims of the Program: General • To provide a coherent educational experience based on the analysis of engineering problems, which leads to the award of the Postgraduate Certificate in Pipeline Integrity Management. • To provide the opportunity to study, understand and apply appropriate advanced analytical engineering techniques. • To produce graduates who can apply fundamental principles and techniques in the problem-solving process. • To enhance the academic and professional development of the students to enable them to be self-evaluative, reflective practitioners and life-long learners. • To develop the application of professional and ethical principles, standards and practices in Pipeline Integrity Management.
The Aims of the Programme: After completion… • On completion of the programme, students will have relevant skills in dealing with the special problems facing pipelines: • assessing pipeline damage, • assessing risk, • and corrosion problems, • as well as general knowledge in pipeline engineering. The programme presents a holistic view of pipeline integrity, which ensures students understand the history, theory, and foundations of the technologies they will use.
The Aims of the Programme: Learning Outcomes • Knowledge and Understanding • Understanding of the scientific principles of pipeline integrity management. • Awareness of current and emerging technologies related to pipeline integrity. • Ability to demonstrate specialist knowledge and critical understanding of major issues in pipeline integrity management. • Ability to demonstrate professional, ethical and legal issues involved in pipeline integrity management • Apply knowledge and understanding to systematically identify and analyse complex problems and offer appropriate strategic solutions using a range of effective methods and tools. • Critically examine, understand, apply, discuss and evaluate philosophies, techniques, tools and methods relevant to Pipeline Integrity for a range of applications. • Use evidence and criteria to integrate, evaluate, interpret and synthesise information and data from a variety of sources. • The ability to apply mathematical modelling to find new solutions to existing or new problems, and yet maintain awareness to the fundamental limitations of such methodologies. Intellectual Skills • Apply appropriate analytical and modelling techniques in the design of solutions to pipeline integrity related problems. • Apply a range of knowledge, techniques and tools in analysis, design, testing and maintenance of high quality solutions to complex problems in pipeline integrity management. • Select and use appropriate methods and techniques to analyse non-routine problems. Practical Skills • Learn independently, enhancing their existing skills and developing new ones to a high level, enabling them to sustain their own continued professional development. • Demonstrate creativity in problem solving and decision making in complex and unpredictable solutions • Effectively and professionally communicate information, ideas, arguments, problems and their solution to specialist audiences. Transferrable/ Key Skills
The Content: The Modules • The Post-graduate Certificate in Pipeline Integrity Management consist of 4 modules. An MSc is 180 credits • * 1 credit: 10 hours contract time.
The Content: Pipeline Integrity Assessment Module … Information • This module presents the latest methods available to assess the significance of defects detected in onshore and offshore pipelines. These methods will include fundamental assessment methods, and more-detailed fitness for purpose analysis. • The module gives an introduction to fracture mechanics and fatigue and also introduces fundamental analytical methods used to assess pipeline defects. • The module aims to ensure that the student gains a practitioner’s insight on all aspects of the subject, as it includes ‘smart pigging’ considerations, pipeline repair, and risk management. • Students will be able to assess pipeline defects by applying fracture mechanics and fatigue theory, and simple analytical methods.
The Content: Onshore Pipeline Engineering Module … Information • This module provides a formal introduction to oil and gas pipelines and their history. The module presents the underlying principles of pipeline design, material selection, construction, testing, inspection, and integrity management. • The module aims to ensure that the student fully appreciates all aspects of the engineering design of pipelines. • The module aims to introduce into the pipeline industry, students from different backgrounds: pipeline engineers, construction engineers, project managers, maintenance engineers, contractors, supervisors, inspectors, operators, quality engineers. • After studying this module students will be able to identify and apply the main pipeline design parameters, construction techniques, inspection tools, repair methods.
The Content: Risk Management of Pipelines Module... Information • This module introduces the concepts of hazard and risk assessment, presenting the methods available to assess and control risk in gas transmission and distribution, and oil pipelines. • The module aims to ensure that the student appreciates all aspects of the subject, including risk acceptability, risk control and risk management. The module also covers regulatory issues and risk management strategies. • At the end of this module, students will be able to apply essential methods available for the: • Identification of threats and failure modes, • Analysis, control and acceptability of risk. • And will have an understanding of the analysis of risk using qualitative and quantitative methods and methods of risk control. So be able to support their decision based on risk assessment and management tools.
The Content: Materials and Corrosion Module… Information • This module introduces the concepts of pipeline engineering materials and corrosion. The module covers internal and external corrosion, monitoring, protection, and inspection techniques. • At the end of this module, students will be able to identify the main aspects related to pipeline materials, different corrosion mechanisms, their protection and inspection, and have an understanding of materials and corrosion in subsea and onshore pipelines. • The module aims to ensure that the student appreciates all aspects of the subject, as it includes exercises, videos, and discussion forums.
Distance Learning Delivery: Why? • Our experience is: • Staff/companies do not want long residential courses; • this is not cost-driven: it is time-driven. • Staff want to learn at their own pace, and at work/home. • Companies want courses to be accredited. • The new (X, Y) generations in work today want to be educated in the same way as they communicate with their friends, book a hotel, and buy a pizza – via the internet. • On-line distance learning is the future.
Distance Learning Delivery: Change? • Existing residential university courses, and residential industry training courses are both important and essential. • But these will not supply our needs in the short or long term, nor appeal to many of our younger, newer staff. • Time to change... • Education and training needs to fit in with today’s modern worker.
Distance Learning Delivery: The Future? • The future for learning is... • Your mobile device will become your office, classroom and organiser. • Social media literacy will be a job requirement. • The corporate curriculum will use video games, simulations, etc., as delivery modes. • Your training and education will be based around your timetable, lifestyle and job.
Distance Learning Delivery: Today’s Learners • Today’s learners are more sophisticated: • they carry a ‘client attitude’; • they demand up to date efficient services due to their time-pressed lifestyles and stress-related jobs.
Distance Learning Delivery: The Need for Flexible Learning • ‘Flexible learning’ means students learn at their pace. • New format of delivery, which will take into account students’ interests and demands. • We need to cater more flexibly. • Needs for collaboration between providers of education and training. • Provision of curricula in packaged form. • Large class numbers and new target groups. • Mature and non-traditional entry students.
Distance Learning Delivery: How it works... • Students register at Northumbria. • When fees are paid, they will be enrolled, and Penspen will send them a welcome pack, and password to the distance learning website. • Student will take one Module at a time, and pay a fee for that Module. • Student has access to a Module for 13 weeks, plus 5 weeks exam preparation. • A Help Desk will provide technical and IT support. • The student will be examined at the end of the Module. • Student then moves onto next Module.
Distance Learning Delivery: Access toOnline Materials • Penspen supply all e-learning materials and academic tutors. • Students are Northumbria University students with full access to all University facilities, including their Virtual Learning Environment, ‘Blackboard’. • All materials will be accessed through Blackboard: http://www.penspen.com/PCPIM https://elp.northumbria.ac.uk
Distance Learning Delivery: The classes… • Classes are presented in ‘bite size’ mini-lectures allowing students to plan their learning over the duration of the module. • Guidelines and study plans are provided based on standard distance learning recommendations. • 2-3 hours study per day over 3-4 days per week.
Distance Learning Delivery: The Assessment and Interaction • Online materials include interactive quizzes giving the opportunity to students to self- assess their progress. • Students are encouraged to create virtual communities and take part in discussion boards as part of their learning experience.
Distance Learning Delivery: Other Applications • We are developing new applications to be downloaded to students smart phones. • The app will include quizzes to enable students to monitor their learning. • The app will facilitate offline learning.