Riding on crest of a wave

As we draw to a close to a wonderful academic year, our marine team at South Devon College (SDC) can't help but reflect on our remarkable accomplishments and look forward to a new academic year of innovation.
This marks our first complete academic year at our state-of-the-art Marine Academy, launched in April 2022. Through the year, SDC's Marine Academy has continued to forge strong industry relationships, with a particular emphasis on sustainability and clean technologies.
Charting our successes:
Our 2023 began with the generous donation of a Doosan AD136 auxiliary engine and a D-I Industrial DMT100IV marine gearbox from employer partner, Watermota. This addition bolstered our training facilities and provided invaluable hands-on experience for our students.
Shortly after, in February, we were thrilled to find SDC shortlisted for the National Maritime UK Awards. The Awards recognise those who have made a tangible contribution to meeting the future skills needs of the sector.
In the same month, our Head of Technology, Adrian Bevin, joined the government-led UK Shipbuilding Skills Taskforce (UKSST). Adrian’s participation will help to ensure the UK’s shipbuilding industry stays at the forefront of the sector, addressing skills gaps, particularly in new and emerging technologies.
March brought an exciting development as our bid to join the prestigious CMDC3 project was successful. SDC will play a crucial role in this consortium, taking the output from the other project partners and evaluating the impact on skills and capabilities needed to support the transformation of the marine sector to zero carbon emissions.
This partnership puts us at the forefront of the sustainability drive, working alongside respected organisations like Princess Yachts, RNLI and Serco, and allows our students to be part of this essential evolution in the industry.
As we celebrated National Careers Week and International Women’s Day, we hosted the 'Women into Maritime' event, bringing local schools and notable marine industry figures together to showcase the exciting opportunities within the sector. This included inspirational guest speaker, Jessica Tyson, an authorised pilot and Deputy Harbour Master, as well as a ‘Merchant Navy Medal’ recipient and experienced professional mariner. Jessica made the top 100 Women in Shipping list in 2019 and 2020.
In May, we convened industry leaders, experts, and enthusiasts at our eTransition workshop, held at the Marine Academy. The event allowed participants to explore cutting-edge sustainable marine solutions.
June saw another fantastic donation from, Princess Yachts – the remarkable Princess R35. This yacht now stands as the centrepiece in our new Student Research and Innovation Centre, offering students hands-on learning opportunities on a commercial product.
Riding the wave of innovation: setting sail for sustainability
Sailing into a cleaner future, the International Maritime Organisation is focused on reducing maritime CO2 emissions by 50% by 2050, the emphasis is now on clean technologies and meeting the Net Zero by 2030. As the marine industry pivots towards sustainability, SDC is perfectly poised to ride this wave, concentrating on green and blue skills needed to drive this transition, with Devon emerging as a global leader in sustainable marine solutions.
With the launch of our first Fisher apprenticeship programme in September, we're joining forces with Fish producing Organisations, employers and industry body Seafish. This alliance underpins our commitment to supporting the sea fishing industry through critical recruitment initiatives, a key to the survival and growth of the sector in the UK.
At South Devon College Marine Academy, we aim to develop students who are not only technically capable but also ready to pioneer the green revolution within the marine and maritime sectors. This forward-thinking approach will boost our graduates' and apprentices’ employability, and contribute significantly to sustainable practices across other industries too. We are committed to providing world-class and future-focused education and training.
As we cast off into a new academic year, we're excited to navigate future tides.
Here's to the exciting voyage ahead!