The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) has awarded a five-year accreditation to Australia's James Cook University (JCU) for programmes in marine science. JCU is the first university outside the UK to have their marine science courses accredited in this way by IMarEST.
"We are delighted to be able to accredit marine science programmes at JCU, Australia's leading tropical research university," says Keith Read CBE, Chief Executive of IMarEST, which has more than 15,000 members worldwide and 47 regional branches. "We already have five marine science courses accredited in the UK and several more that we are currently accrediting; there is even wider accreditation relating to marine engineering and technology. In all, IMarEST has accredited marine engineering, science and technology courses at over 50 academic institutions globally, including courses at the Australian Maritime College in Launceston, Tasmania and at the Hunter Institute of Technology in Newcastle, New South Wales.
"Our accreditation policy is extremely strict and means that the IMarEST has assessed the course/programme against a set of criteria that ensures a high standard of courses content, provision and assessment. The process is by peer review by a panel of marine engineering, marine science or marine technology experts and lasts for a maximum of five years. After this period re-accreditation is required. We look forward to a very long and productive association with JCU.
The presentation of accreditation will take place at a ceremony at JCU in Townsville, North Queensland, on Wednesday 6 September, when Norman Farmer, IMarEST's representative in Australia and Executive Director of the IMarEST ANZSPAC (Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific) Division will make the presentation to Professor Ned Pankhurst, Pro Vice Chancellor Science, Engineering and Information Technology at JCU.
"This will be a great honour," says Norm Farmer. "It was only in November 2005 that IMarEST formed its newest branch, the North Queensland Branch based at Townsville centred around the region's burgeoning marine activity. In just a few short months, membership of the Branch has already passed 50 and still growing. Accreditation of JCU's Bachelor of Marine Science and Bachelor of Marine Science (Tropical Marine Network) programmes is a real feather in Townsville's, Queensland's and Australia's cap! The involvement of the academic and student body in Branch activities is something of a win:win situation for our Branch members."
As Professor Pankhurst explains: "Accreditation allows students to place their studies in marine science in a professional context. This is invaluable both in terms of development of skills and experience in addition to the core academic programme, and in terms of developing career directions on graduation."
Students in the two programmes receive student membership of IMarEST and are invited to regular research seminars on marine science that form part of the local activities.
"The Institute has been very supportive of marine science at JCU through scholarship endowment, and accreditation forms part of that ongoing interest and encouragement," says Prof. Pankhurst. "We are delighted to have this ongoing relationship with IMarEST."
Further information on academic accreditation is available at www.imarest.org/membership/accreditation/
