Innovative training and R&D in Subsea technologies and engineering at the University of Adelaide

Abstract

Because now is the time to prepare the future, the University of Adelaide has invested in capability development to support the shipbuilding and allied industries in Australia: • From a workforce development first: reinvigorating the Masters of Maritime Engineering, the 2019 intake has seen 33 post-graduate students interested in that field. 10 students are also in a Dual Degree with ENSTA Bretagne of France. This is a new record since the creation of the MME in 2006. • From a R&D perspective as well: the Shipbuilding Hub for Integrated Engineering and Local Design has initiated a number of projects in R&D, including some with dual applications (civilian / military) in the Subsea environment. Whilst it is still early days to celebrate a new dawn, this paper intends to measure the practical progress made and to display the tangible achievements obtained by the University. Because the workforce ramp-up in the maritime domain will request to develop people rather than relocating or poaching skilled individuals, we intend to explore the options that could meet the expectations of Primes such as ASC, BAE and Naval Group, but also companies from allied industries, such as oil and gas or tier I or tier II subcontractors. Not following, but leading, the University of Adelaide has committed to the Maritime domain, and Subsea in particular, whilst focusing primarily on Naval Shipbuilding Plan with SEA1000, SEA5000 and SEA1180.