International Course Success
The course which was delivered in support of the Japan Capacity Building Project and funded by the NIPPON Foundation, commenced on September 6th 2010 and concluded on December 17th 2010. The course provided the students with the fundamental skills and knowledge to compile and maintain navigational charts (paper and digital). A student from the Japan Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department also joined the group for the final five-week Module (Electronic Navigational Charts).
During the intense 15-week programme, the students completed a number of practical assignments and visited a variety of work areas within the UKHO. The students also gained further insights from invaluable field trips which included Bristol Port Authority, Brixham Harbour Authority and the naval bases at Portsmouth and Devonport.
The course was also honoured to receive a visit from Captain Hugo Gorziglia, a Director of the IHB and Mr Shigeru Nakabayashi (JHOD representative at the IHB). Captain Gorziglia reminded the students that they were all ambassadors of the IHO and their cartographic profession and that they should use their new skills and knowledge to make a difference through knowledge sharing and supporting and applying the ethos of the IHB in enhancing standards of navigational charts and the safety of the mariner.
At the closing ceremony, attended by students, the UKHO Training Team and senior managers at the UKHO, Peter Westcott, UKHO corporate training manager, said: "The students on this course have repaid the faith shown in them through their hard work, commitment and positive approach. This has been a truly international collaboration, with our Japanese partners, the IHB and through the generosity of the NIPPON Foundation. The NIPPON Foundation has also established the NIPPON Foundation Fellowship which the students are now part of and join last year's successful students in being inaugural fellows with the aim of creating an international community of practice."
The students were presented with their final course certificates at the closing ceremony by the UKHO National Hydrographer, Rear Admiral Nick Lambert, who closed by saying: "The UKHO is proud to have delivered this event in collaboration with the NIPPON Foundation, and thank all concerned who made this such a successful event. I wish all the students success in their careers and hope that the skills and knowledge learnt will be applied successfully within their own organizations which ultimately will benefit the safety of the mariner.
Image: UKHO staff and students from Left to right: Rittidate Katekong (Thailand); Linda Purina (Latvia); Yuriy Smagin (Ukraine); Peter Westcott (UKHO Training Manager); Jennifer Ryan (New Zealand); Jeff Bryant (UKHO International Capacity Building Manager); Chinh Phuc Nguyen (Vietnam); Niki Silvera (Uruguay).
