Orkney College UHI – Science, Agronomy and Maritime Departments
Science Department
Orkney College hosts UHI students taking a range of degrees, including the BSc Sustainable Development. The College contributes an Honours level module on sustainable energy to this programme. Students from both Orkney Secondary Schools can, as one of their options in 5th or 6th Year, attend the College to take a Level 5 course in Energy. As well as providing a general understanding of the energy industry, including renewables, and a closer look at the oil and gas industry, the course has a strong practical element in which teams of students scratch-build a working aerogenerator and a solar-thermal panel.
Agronomy Institute
The Agronomy Institute (AI) opened at Orkney College UHI in 2002 and is a market-led Research Centre within the University of the Highlands and Islands. The Institute provides a research facility for the development of plants and plant-based products – including energy crops -within UHI focussing particularly on the Highlands, Western Isles and the Northern Isles and runs major agronomy projects in Northern Scotland. These are in collaboration with a wide range of academic and commercial partners.
Maritime Studies Department
The Maritime Studies Department, on its own pier in Stromness, has been training seafarers for over 40 years. Many of our instructors are currently serving at sea as well as providing training at the department when on shore. This gives us a team who are right up to date, highly motivated and aware of modern training needs. As well as providing courses for the fishing and merchant-marine sectors we are developing training in the growing renewables industry. Our renewables programme aims to train not only mariners but also to address the health and safety needs of technicians and researchers.