Marine Engineering - Foundation Degree (Lancaster University)

The general aim of the Marine Engineering programme is to equip entrants for a career as a Merchant Navy Engineer Officer and in the wider marine industry with the knowledge, skills and attitudes which such an undertaking demands. It seeks to achieve this by offering a curriculum of studies that collectively represents the demands of the industry multi-disciplinary graduates. Overall, the modules cover the syllabus required for an EOOW qualification in Merchant Navy.

The primary Educational aims of this programme will be to develop vocational expertise and improve employability of the learners. We will emphasise the vocational aspects of learning, in order to develop a blend of knowledge and skills to suit their career goals. Individuals will have widely varying aspirations. This programme will equip the learners with the required Engineering knowledge and transferable skills required by employers. Graduates will be able to demonstrate the general skills required to interact effectively in industrial and technical environments. The Government’s Skills Agenda aims to change the educational emphasis from a knowledge base to a skills base.

Foundation Degrees in general and this programme in particular are designed with this in mind. Employers have identified the following employee characteristics as essential to the economic success of their undertakings:

• Independent enquiry
• Creative thinking
• Team working
• Self-management
• Effective participation
• Reflective learning

Graduates of this programme will be able to identify and solve problems, appreciate the consequences of decisions, explore issues from different perspectives, analyse and evaluate information judging its relevance and value, come to logical conclusions that can be supported using reasoned arguments and reliable evidence. They will be able to adapt ideas as circumstances change, showing initiative and collaborating with others to work towards common goals. The strong vocational emphasis of the course will foster these generic employment skills.