Big demand for aquaculture management degree
Thirteen senior fish farm staff from five aquaculture companies have enrolled on a ground-breaking new professional development programme in aquaculture management.
The 13, from salmon farmers Grieg Seafood, Scottish Sea Farms, Cooke Aquaculture Scotland and the Scottish Salmon Company, and trout grower Dawnfresh, are the first to enrol on the new degree-level course developed by Shetland's NAFC Marine Centre UHI.
This programme is the first of its kind in the UK and has been developed by NAFC staff in response to demand from Scottish fish farming companies to enable experienced fish farm staff to gain a qualification in senior management while working in the industry.
Distance learning
The flexible training programme, which will normally take about 24 months to complete, uses distance learning technology to allow candidates to study at times and places that suit them and which fit in with their work and other commitments.
Candidates can enrol on the programme at any time and are supported and assessed by NAFC staff throughout their training. On successful completion of the programme they will receive a Scottish Vocational Qualification at Level 4 from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), which is equivalent to an Ordinary Degree (SCQF Level 9), as well as a Lantra Technical Apprenticeship Certificate funded by Skills Development Scotland.
Course leader Stuart Fitzsimmons, a former fish farmer, said that “following the successful introduction of our Modern Apprenticeships in Aquaculture for new and experienced fish farm staff, we had a lot of interest from aquaculture companies in a training programme for their managers.
Management qualification
"The Technical Apprenticeship in Aquaculture Management has been designed to meet that need and to provide a progression opportunity for staff who have completed the Modern Apprenticeships. It will allow senior aquaculture staff to gain a management qualification while working in the industry, and building on their existing knowledge, experience and skills.
"The use of distance learning, supported by NAFC staff, means that people from anywhere in Scotland can undertake this training at times and places that suit them, without having to attend college classes."
Talking about where the students were based, Fitzsimmons added: "We've got Shetland and the mainland and the Western Isles. This was the first intake for this course, and the numbers are actually more than I was planning for the first wave, because there was such a good demand for it. We will get these guys up and running and then expand around the country as and when required.
Enquiries from overseas
"I've actually had enquiries from overseas to do the course, even Australia and America, but it's a little bit tricky to do that because we have to do site assessments, so although I'd really love to go out to Aus and do some site assessments, it's probably the practicalities and the costs associated with it that are going to limit that.
"But it's been a very good response, mainly because there's no other course like it anywhere at the moment, even in Australia. It's been needing to be developed for quite some time."
"The kind of progression we've asked for is someone who's been a senior operative, with quite a few years' experience under their belt, who's looking into the challenge of moving into management. We have a range of guys enrolled at the moment, from seniors looking to get into assistant site managers' positions, right up to experienced site managers that have been in their role for quite some time. The whole point is to offer them the opportunity to get a qualification whilst being employed full-time and doing their job, because it's all about them doing their job.
Equivalent of a BSc
"It's the equivalent of a BSc, so there's a lot of work. They'll have to work hard. Some of these guys haven't done SVQs (Scottish Vocational Qualifications), you don't need it as a prerequisite, some of them have already got degrees. Really the prerequisite is that you have enough experience and are in a position where you can do the course."
The NAFC Marine Centre currently has more than 50 aquaculture staff from throughout Scotland enrolled on its Modern Apprenticeships in Aquaculture at Level 2 or Level 3, with more than 150 having already completed one of these programmes.
The Centre is also launching two new short training courses in Capstan Winch Safety Awareness and Jet Washing Safety Awareness, both developed at the request of the aquaculture industry.
