Practicers learn to manage projects at offshore wind farms

Over the next few years, in Poland the labour market in the offshore wind energy sector can create up to 80 thousand new jobs. The preparation of qualified staff will be a major challenge. One university that responds to market needs is the Maritime University of Gdynia.

In the article

In February the university's walls will leave the first graduates of annual postgraduate studies "Risk management in the offshore mining and wind energy industry", and another edition will start in March. Recruitment continues. The main partner of the study is PGE Baltica, a company from the PGE Group.

Postgraduate studies are designed for management and technical staff of offshore wind and oil & gas companies.

Practical knowledge

When creating a postgraduate program, we tried to select a subject that will complement the offer of postgraduate studies in the market. Our studies combine knowledge of widely understood risk management in projects, regardless of the industry, with knowledge of strict offshore wind energy and offshore mining industry.
Agnieszka Blochus-Dziula, Head of Postgraduate Studies

During two semesters, students attended classes that lasted 190 hours in total. The feature that characterizes and distinguishes these studies is the practical dimension of the knowledge provided.

Theoretical knowledge, but without excessive academicity, combined with practical knowledge provides a strong foundation for knowledge and understanding of risks in the offshore sector. It is a powerful load of information, strongly accelerating understanding of the offshore wind and oil & gas sector.
Konrad Sparrow, a professional listener for offshore elevators and risk management practices

From my perspective, studies have allowed me to gain knowledge that could take several years to complete without studies. I see clear progress in the profession. Combining these studies with professional practice is the best we can do for ourselves if we are serious about dealing with the offshore industry in our professional work.
Konrad Sparrow, a professional listener for offshore elevators and risk management practices

How to plan a risk

Risk management planning and proper project management are essential factors at each stage of project implementation, such as contract preparation, expertise, component delivery planning, design, maintenance and renovation tasks and many other activities.

Rafał Żendarski, senior head of port-sea logistics of offshore wind farms in PGE Baltica, during the first edition of the study, discussed topics concerning the widely understood offshore mining industry and offshore wind energy

As a typical practice with many years of experience at sea, I also conducted a case study based on true analytical documentation, thereby familiarising listeners with carrying out a risk assessment under real working conditions on ships.
Rafał Żendarski, PGE Baltica expert, senior head of port logistics for offshore wind farms

PGE Baltica is the main partner of these postgraduate studies.

Risk management is a key issue for the offshore industry, for many reasons. It is not only the basis for ensuring the feasibility of investment, it is also the basis for business decisions and directly affects the costs of projects, not to mention the health and life of the people involved.
Łukasz Sikorski, lecturer in postgraduate studies, at the same time Director at Offshore Wind Consultants

Listeners of the first edition had a chance to take part in exercises based on actual and very up-to-date case studies – they conducted a legal and technical due diligence process for the offshore project acquisition transaction and analysed the risks associated with investing in the Polish offshore wind energy industry.
Łukasz Sikorski, lecturer in postgraduate studies, at the same time Director at Offshore Wind Consultants

For those who are professionally involved in the maritime energy sector, these studies are well invested time. By learning about risk management tools in a practical way, listeners learn to operate more efficiently, faster and more efficiently, basing their decisions on knowledge gained also in college.
Robert Grzegorowski of RWE Renewables

In his opinion, learning in practice topics related to project risk, strategic thinking develops and builds courage in making difficult business decisions.

Traditional and online formula

These arguments are reflected in the opinion of the hearers. Working in regional government Maciej Nowakowski sees offshore industry as an epochal development opportunity due to the scale of this project.

Marine wind energy is an opportunity, but also a challenge and a risk. Studies at UMG allow to identify them even to listeners who are not professionally involved in the maritime industry. The choice of problem areas and speakers – mainly practitioners specialising in a given field – allows you to know the whole spectrum of offshore industry from environmental issues, engineering specificity or legal conditions.
Maciej Nowakowski, Regional Government

According to another student working in the shipbuilding industry Filip Babiak, the formation of offshore wind farms is an opportunity for the maritime and shipbuilding industry.

A big advantage of the study is the fact that classes are also available in the online formula, allowing listeners working at sea to participate in them.
Filip Babik, shipbuilding industry

More practice

In the following editions of the studies we intend to increase the number of hours of practical classes – exercises and workshops and plan to enrich the program with several new issues, in total it will be 210 hours of classes during two semesters,
Agnes Blocus-Dziula

Agnieszka Blochus-Dziula added that Piotr Kubala, an expert on geology of offshore wind farms in PGE Baltica, would be among the lecturers.

I am pleased to be able to pass on my knowledge and experience to students in geological work for the offshore oil and gas industry and offshore wind energy. The assessment of the risk of geological investment throughout the project cycle is one of the key elements of each project.
Piotr Kubala, expert on geology of offshore wind farms in PGE Baltica

The second edition of postgraduate studies is scheduled for 4 March 2023. Conducted by the University of the Sea in Gdynia, recruitment will end on 31 January.

Postgraduate studies in numbers:

95% of listeners are positive about the usefulness of the information gained in terms of improving their skills and competences.

90% of listeners highly and highly appreciate the usefulness and probability of using knowledge.

210 hours of classes were scheduled during the second edition of the study.

End of recruitment for the next edition of the study – January 31, 2023.

Baltic Sea area is 397.978 km². The estimated potential for the development of offshore wind energy on this area is 93 GW, one third of which falls on the Polish part of the Baltic.

10 wind farm projects are currently implemented in the Polish exclusive economic zone of the Baltic Sea.

Source: PGE Baltica/UMG