The second conference in the series 'University of Gdańsk Educates Personnel for Offshore Wind Energy' is ahead of us. The event is aimed at students and will introduce them to the rapidly growing offshore sector and give them the opportunity to talk to future employers. The event will be attended by guests from the offshore industry. A newly created course of study will also be presented: Applied Physical Oceanography.

The 'Students and Business' conference, in the series 'University of Gdańsk educates personnel for Offshore Wind Energy', under the honorary patronage of the Marshal of the Pomorskie Voivodeship, will take place on November 18 this year, from 9:15 to 14:45, at the Department of Oceanography and Geography of the University of Gdańsk in Gdynia. The main organiser of the event is the Department of Physical Oceanography UG.

This is the second event in the series. The first one took place in March 2022 and was co-organised by the UG Centre for Sustainable Development. Companies and institutions operating, among others, for the offshore industry and interested in employing UG graduates were invited. During the March meeting, a focus survey was conducted, asking prospective employers what competencies and skills graduates of Applied Physical Oceanography should possess. The survey resulted in a list of recommendations for the newly created degree programme. 

 - 'The new degree programme, Applied Physical Oceanography, has a practical profile. Before we set about creating the programme, we wanted to hear the voice of employers and students. We wanted to create an offer that would enable us to educate specialists who are best prepared to take up employment in the newly-created offshore wind energy sector,' - says Head of the Department of Physical Oceanography at the University of Gdansk, dr Aleksandra Dudkowska, the originator of the new course of study. - 'Tips from practitioners made us realise, for example, the importance of soft skills, which are extremely important for employers. We also asked students for their opinions. Students from the Scientific Club of Operational Oceanography organised a panel discussion. Constructive criticism of our educational activities to date, as well as many accurate comments and tips, allowed us to look at the teaching process through the eyes of a student. Based on the recommendations we received from employers and students, we built an innovative master's degree programme.'

The greatest emphasis in the newly created degree programme is placed on practical skills: physical measurements in the sea, modelling of physical processes, analysis of marine data and the necessary theoretical knowledge to acquire them.

- 'For our university, and especially for the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography of the University of Gdansk, investment in marine areas is an impulse to create new fields of study that meet current needs. At the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography of the University of Gdańsk, we have launched an engineering degree programme in Marine Hydrography in 2020. The next step is the creation of the degree programme Applied Physical Oceanography,' - says Vice-Dean for Education dr Ewa Szymczak. - 'These studies are not only an attractive content offer, but also innovative educational methods aimed at activating students and preparing them to take on new challenges in a changing professional reality.'

The conference to be held on November 18 is addressed to students. It will provide an opportunity to introduce the dynamically developing offshore sector and to talk to employers in the industry.

We encourage you to attend. Admission is free, no prior registration is required.

Conference programme below.