Sustainable Marine Environmental Management (SCQF level 8) CPD Award

What is special about this course?

Are you interested in marine management, licensing or consultancy? Do you need to work with communities, stakeholders and other marine users to engage them in marine decision making?

Gain the skills needed to work in the public or private sector as a development planner, policy officer, or marine manager, on our CPD Award Sustainable Marine Environmental Management (SCQF level 8). Improve your knowledge of the complexities of managing the marine environment, maritime activity, and development, with specialist options for those interested in working in marine energy, aquaculture, or in community engagement. 

Develop your understanding of marine planning and governance processes, engagement of stakeholders, and impacts of development on the marine environment and other users. Explore the essential components of sustainability principles, social justice, governance, planning, and law, as you develop an appreciation of the skills and tasks inherent to development projects, including community participation, satisfying the requirements of statutory planning and licensing considerations, and undertaking of necessary appraisals.

Join our in-depth and engaging course and allow us to help you to you to take on new roles, building on existing experience to become more engaged with marine licensing, governance and consenting.

Special features

• Fully online for distance learning
• Flexible start dates to suit employed staff
• Tutor support always available and excellent library facilities
• Experienced, knowledgeable team with research and practical experience in marine management and policy
• Excellent for international students

Entry requirements

• You should have completed at least two Highers or equivalent and/or relevant further education studies
• Students for whom English is not your first language should provide evidence of your fluency in English (reading and writing) to IELTS level 5.5 or equivalent

CPD Award

You will study the following 2 core modules (20 credits each):
Marine management and policy

• Learn to: navigate the marine licencing system and deepen your understanding of marine management. 
• Develop: your understanding of the challenges facing marine ecosystems and how ocean governance systems and assessment methods (e.g. Environmental Impact Assessment) are used to manage human activities (e.g. marine renewables, aquaculture, oil and gas). 
• Outcomes: you will have developed an appreciation of the legislation, processes and tasks inherent in assessing the impacts of development projects on marine ecosystems.

Participation, inclusion and engagement in marine planning

• Learn to: engage communities, stakeholders and other marine users in development planning and management. 
• Develop: critical thinking about what constitutes effective stakeholder engagement and what is ‘just’ ocean governance, via exploration of a range of case study examples.
• Outcomes: an appreciation of effective stakeholder engagement; critical analysis skills to assess sustainable development proposals and mechanisms to reduce conflict.

You will also study 1 of the following optional modules (20 credits each):
Empowering coastal communities: ocean citizenship and engagement

• Learn to: engage communities, stakeholders, and other marine users in ocean management, restoration and citizenship. 
• Develop: critical thinking about what constitutes effective local management and approaches to include civil society and communities in management of their marine spaces, via exploration of a range of international case study examples.
• Outcomes: an appreciation of effective community engagement and principles of citizen science.

Managing sustainable energy development 

• Learn to: engage communities, stakeholders, and other marine users in ocean management, restoration and citizenship. 
• Develop: critical thinking about what constitutes effective local management and approaches to include civil society and communities in management of their marine spaces, via exploration of a range of international case study examples.
• Outcomes: an appreciation of effective community engagement and principles of citizen science.

Manage fish farm operations and production

• Learn to: manage fin-fish farm production (freshwater and / or marine) by outlining the sustainable management requirements associated with successful production of the product
• Develop: your understanding the natural life cycle of the farmed species and the management of all resources required to undertake the successful production
• Outcomes: knowledge of sustainable management of production, facilities, human resources, health and safety, budgets, problem solving and legislative requirements

Sustainable Aquaculture

• Learn to: investigate the sustainability in aquaculture production which minimises environmental impact, promotes social responsibility and ensures long term economic viability in local and global context
• Develop: your understanding of key areas in aquaculture production such as environment, sustainable use of raw materials, disease prevention, energy dependency and recycling
• Outcomes: you will have develop the sustainable management of resources, critically evaluate and identify areas to improve for a sustainable future

Fees

For the latest information on fees please see our fees policy.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.