The University of the Highlands and Islands has launched a new engineering degree to match job demand in the region.
The BEng power engineering systems course has been developed with power giant SSE to fill the demand for power transmission engineers.
The university signed a strategic partnership with the energy giant in 2012 to help deliver its anticipated £5-10 billion infrastructure investment in the next 20 years.
The degree, which will be delivered from Inverness College UHI, will include training in a broad range of power system technologies including renewable generation and high voltage transmission and distribution systems.
Gary Campbell, the university’s key account director, said that until now students have travelled to England to complete training in this particular engineering discipline.
He added: “We’ve been working with SSE and our engineering staff across the university to respond to this anomaly and develop our new degree which will deliver qualified staff to SSE where they need it and also attract new students into our area.”
Billy Andrews, programme leader at Inverness College UHI, said: “As well as meeting the needs of local employers in the Highland and Islands, this qualification should be of interest to power network providers across the world.
“As an example, the Beauly to Denny power line upgrade was undertaken in some of the most hostile conditions possible and we can take students to learn in what is a real living laboratory.”
David Gardner, SSE’s director of transmission, said: “Much of SSE’s investment over the next few years will be in its transmission business where numerous projects are underway to upgrade and reinforce this network which stretches across the north of Scotland. All of these projects need employees with specific skill sets and the introduction of this degree will enable more and more people to develop these vital skills.”