Edinburgh College’s International and Engineering teams headed to Aberdeen last month to strengthen industry links, and promote the College’s engineering expertise to potential partners from across Scotland and around the globe.

The four-day Offshore Europe event saw Oil and Gas stakeholders gather to discuss technological developments in the industry, local and international training and upskilling opportunities, and forge new partnerships.

The College currently works with over 2,000 industry partners and is looking to expand its international and local profile by drawing on its expertise in technical and vocational education to align itself more closely with the global oil and gas sector. This includes promoting its international and Scotland activity across the sector, and developing and strengthening partnerships with businesses involved in the industry.

Strong industry links put Edinburgh College at the forefront of oil and gas training not only for students wanting to enter the industry, but also for companies who wish to upskill their staff with relevant and accessible training. The College has a range of industry-relevant courses in areas such as Health and Safety and NEBOSH training, as well as a popular Measurement and Control HNC, and successful OPITO Instrumentation courses – from which Edinburgh College trainees have been named OPITO Apprentice of the Year six times over the past nine years.

Additionally, the College introduced an HNC Mechanical Engineering course this year, which is delivered using innovative distance learning technology. This makes the course accessible to participants outside of the capital city, and can be delivered across the world – from an oil rig in the North Sea to an office in Accra. The College aims to continue to expand its suite of online qualifications in the coming years, in line with the growing industry and student demand and as part of its ambition to grow its reach and reputation internationally.

During Offshore Europe, which saw over 38,000 people from 119 countries worldwide visit the P&J Live arena over the four days, the teams showcased a Process Simulation Rig (pictured) used in practical training. The rig can be dismantled, rebuilt and set with faults to allow students the opportunity to work with real life scenarios. At its Midlothian Campus, the College boasts industry-relevant training facilities including an Oil Production Platform Simulator and specialist Instrumentation and Control engineering workshops. Equipment including a Honeywell Experion C300 Controller and PLC facilities mean that students gain hands on experience of using the type of kit used by industry and know how to troubleshoot it prior to entering the sector.

International Business Manager at Edinburgh College, Sarah Gore said: “At Edinburgh College we have a wealth of experience in providing high-quality engineering courses and top-class facilities that can be used to support the training needs of the industry, both here in the UK and internationally.

“Offshore Europe was a great platform to showcase what the College can provide in terms of oil and gas training and a fantastic opportunity to meet with potential industry partners.”

For more information, please contact Neale Gardiner: neale.gardiner@edinburghcollege.ac.uk.