Abstract
This paper describes the results of recent research carried out with the UK energy sector to assess low-carbon related skills gaps and training requirements at the masters-level. Via iterative engagement across the industry, the characteristics of the market for new ‘needs-driven’ industry-focussed masters-level training offerings were defined. The results, taken together with the outcomes of a gap analysis of existing masters-level training, support the creation of a new framework for masters-level energy education that will more effectively meet the growing unmet need for such skills in the UK and beyond. The outcomes of the research indicate that flexibility in both delivery mode and curriculum content across both technical and non-technical disciplines is essential, along with improved supplier agility to rapidly develop new courses in evolving engineering specialisations. Without responding effectively to such demands from industry, we conclude that the advanced skills needed across the highly dynamic UK and global energy engineering sector will be in increasingly short supply.
Highlights
Driven by increasing concerns about the social and environmental impacts of climate change and uncertainties in the security of future energy supplies, there has been a rapid evolution in recent years of new sustainable energy system technologies, policies and markets
All interviewees identified advances advances in in technology technology as as driving driving changes changes in in their their organisations, organisations, All interviewees identified whilst the survey data suggests that approximately half of the companies who responded were either either whilst the survey data suggests that approximately half of the companies who responded were for new advanced technologies
Our research showed that several interviewees are already supporting their own continuing professional development (CPD) at Master of Science (MSc) or Master research showed that several interviewees are already supporting their own CPD at MSc or Master of Business Administration (MBA) levels, as well as in terms of bespoke courses
Summary
Driven by increasing concerns about the social and environmental impacts of climate change and uncertainties in the security of future energy supplies, there has been a rapid evolution in recent years of new sustainable energy system technologies, policies and markets. The UK government has put in place a legally binding commitment to achieve ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2050 [1] Meeting this target will have profound implications for the future roles of engineers across a wide range of disciplines [2,3]. This ongoing and rapidly accelerating expansion of the ‘zero-carbon’ energy sector is already resulting in increasing demands for highly skilled sustainable energy specialists across many disciplines, especially within the engineering, information technology and commercial domains [4,5,6]. Given that highly skilled workers are shown to be better able to maximise the benefits of new technologies and identify market opportunities [7,8], it is clear that an appropriately skilled workforce is a pre-requisite for a flourishing, vibrant and sustainable low-carbon energy industrial and commercial landscape
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