The Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) in Oban has launched a new marine science master’s course which includes extra employability skills training and a fifth year working with a program partner in sectors such as aquaculture, marine technology, scientific diving, conservation and marine renewables.
The Applied Marine Science master’s course straddles the institute’s bachelor’s in Marine Science but was developed in response to a need for a more skilled workforce as the blue economy develops in Scotland and the wider UK. The inaugural intake of 16 students exceeded expectation.
“There’s never been a more vital time to study marine science,” said program leader Dr. Arlene Ditchfield of SAMS. “Our oceans face urgent challenges: climate change, biodiversity loss, and the unsustainable use of precious resources.
“As society attempts to provide solutions to address our impact on the environment, various industries and sectors will require more graduates with the knowledge and skills to tackle these issues head-on.
The Applied Marine Science MSci has partnered with companies throughout Scotland, including SAMS Enterprise, the commercial arm of SAMS, to allow students to match up with their preferred program partner and build connections before their final year placement.
“In order to fully develop the emerging blue economy, creating new services and markets that operate in harmony with the marine environment, we will need scientific expertise,” said Steve Ham, head of SAMS Enterprise.
“From the employer’s point of view this is filling a gap in the sector,” said Iain Eisner of UHI Futures, which supports students in careers and employability. “The course content was designed with input from employers, which I think is a big plus point for the course. It means the content is unique and focused on an attractive and growing sector that will have a lot of need for the skillset these students will possess.”
