GNS Science hydrocarbons manager David Darby today said he expected graduates from the two-year Master of Science in Petroleum Geoscience program to be snapped up by a world hungry for skilled petroleum specialists.

“The industry is recruiting aggressively and there are not enough skilled graduates to go around. This initiative will help to address this urgent problem,” Darby said.

Thirty world-class petroleum geoscientists from GNS Science would contribute to the course, with GNS specialists working closely with course participants, as well as with the petroleum sector, providing research and consulting services within New Zealand and internationally.

“Very few universities would be able to draw on that level of petroleum expertise for a postgraduate course,” Darby said.

The program would be open to earth science students from around the world and consist of one year of course work, followed by a one-year research project jointly supervised by Victoria and GNS Science.

The program was designed to produce graduate students with a well-rounded knowledge of the scientific techniques used in oil and gas exploration. Students would spend part of their time at GNS Science gaining experience with industry software and equipment.

New Zealand’s complex petroleum systems would provide an unrivalled setting for the course, Darby said.

An advisory group representing the country’s oil and gas exploration industry would provide input on course content to ensure relevance to industry needs. Industry specialists would also be involved in the course, mostly by presenting seminars and supporting collaborative projects.

Victoria University School of Earth Sciences acting head, Mike Hannah, said the school’s geology and geophysics program had an excellent record in teaching and research in a vide variety of geological, geophysical and geochemical areas.

“Students on this program will not only be able to tap into the knowledge and research of Victoria’s scientists, but also that of our colleagues at GNS Science and in the industry.

“It combines the best of theoretical knowledge with the best of practical experience, allowing students to work alongside specialists in the industry,” said Hannah.