Contractors for the local maritime industry
The University of Southern Brittany (UBS), backed by the Dupuy de Lome Research Institute and Eurolarge Innovation, is creating a new master's program called "marine engineering." Announced for the start of the 2022 academic year, it aims to train future design engineers, R&D, eco-design project managers and other technical and technical-commercial executives in the various branches of the marine industry.
"We have an employment pool around Lorient with strong marine engineering. This makes it possible to train local contractors for a non-disposable industry. They will be the recruitment base for boat manufacturers, for offshore racing, for producers of fittings, for specialists in nautical leisure, fishing, defense or marine energy. The demand is very large," explains Antoine Le Duigou, a professor at UBS in charge of training.
Thinking about the yachting and ocean racing of tomorrow
The training program intends to draw on local skills to anticipate the future of the maritime sector, particularly in yachting and offshore sailing. "There is a strong link with the R&D of our laboratories, in the formulation of tomorrow's materials, the design of tomorrow's structures and the reflection on the life cycle, the study of additive manufacturing. When the IMOCA class implements environmental criteria, it means that the teams will need people capable of understanding materials, conducting life cycle analysis, and doing eco-design in mechanics," explains Antoine Le Duigou.
To keep an applied aspect, the teaching team wants to rely on the Hydrocontest competition, which is interested in the ecological evolution of navigation.
A partially sandwich course
Applications are open to graduates with a Bachelor's degree, but also to employees in the sector wishing to resume their studies. The number of students per class should be around 15.
Registration for the 2-year Master Marine program will begin in March 2022 for a first intake in September.
The first year takes place entirely at the university, except for a 3-month internship, while the second year is done in alternation with a company in the field.
