36 NAVY NEWS, JUNE 2011


Open University can widen career horizons


MORE than 4,000 service personnel and their dependents are currently taking advantage of the special relationship between the Open University and the Armed Forces, picking from around 600 Open University and Open University Business School courses and making the most of the cost, flexibility


and quality benefits on offer. And while the Open University can help Service personnel gain qualifications while they are in the Armed Forces, studying with the Open University can also prepare them for new careers in the fiercely competitive civilian jobs market.


Encouraged by the Ministry of Defence’s Enhanced Learning Credits scheme (www. enhancedlearningcredits.com), an initiative to promote lifelong learning amongst members of the Armed Forces, students can get financial support towards the costs of personal or career development,


after accruing a


sufficient amount of service, from approved suppliers such as the Open University


The flexible and distance


learning format of Open University study means it is ideal for those in the Armed Forces, as they are able to work their studies around their shifts and postings. “There is a huge range of


courses available and suitable for Service personnel enabling preparation


for resettlement


and the ensuing competition for jobs,” says Paul Drake, Business Development Manager at the Open University. For example, if you’re thinking


about teaching, then studying for a PGCE (Professional Graduate Certificate in Education) with the Open University can provide the foundations of a successful and rewarding career as a secondary school teacher. The Open University offers a modular PGCE programme that allows flexible patterns of study over up to three years, which will suit those whose circumstances prevent them from taking a traditional full-time course. Or maybe a career in IT beckons?


certified Microsoft IT Academy and a


The Open University is a Cisco Academy, which


means that certain modules are officially validated by Microsoft and Cisco.


Cisco Networking (CCNA) (T216),


for example, is a


computing and telecoms industry- recognised qualification focused on network communication, and offers employment and career opportunities internationally. A qualification in any one of the subject areas the Open University offers – engineering, design and innovation, systems, technology – can bring real benefits in your


professional life. To find out how studying with the Open University could help you broaden your career horizons or be better equipped for civilian life,


choose/forces/studying-ou The Open University is the largest university in the UK with


visit www8.open.ac.uk/


more than a quarter of a million students, more than 7,000 tutors, in excess of 3,500 support and administrative staff and more than 1,200 full-time academic staff. Since the institution was


launched in 1969 it is reckoned that some 1.6 million people


across the world have studied with the Open University. Open University students


can be found around the globe – most courses are available throughout Europe, and some worldwide, while many more are available


through partnerships and accredited organisations. The average age of a new


undergraduate Open University student is 32, but the age ranges from 17-year-olds studying Open University


courses alongside


A-levels to students in their 90s. It is also the largest provider of higher education for people with disabilities.


Saudi Aramco’s fleet supports energy industry


SAUDI Aramco’s domestic operations span the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and include the exploration for and production of oil and natural gas,


refining, petrochemicals


and distribution — none of which would be possible without the support of the Marine Department.


With 600 permanent employees and more than 2,000 contractors, the Marine Department has a reliable fleet of vessels that operates 24 hours a day, 365 days per year from a number of ports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The fleet consists of a total of 157 vessels,


both owned and chartered, including pollution control boats and barges, mooring boats, jack- up barges, tug boats for terminal operations and a variety of service ships. As the world’s leading energy supplier, Saudi Aramco work to ensure the reliability and


sustainability of oil and gas supplies across the globe, employing a multinational work force to help achieve that goal. Upon joining Saudi Aramco, you will have the opportunity to expand your knowledge and gain experience in one of the world’s most advanced business environments. Saudi Aramco offer a unique combination


of a great package and a superb work-life balance, coupled with job security and amazing rewards. Living and working in Saudi Arabia, you’ll


enjoy an exceptionally high disposable income and low living costs so you can enjoy the lifestyle you’ve always dreamed of. From the moment you submit your CV (if


your application is successful) to the moment you arrive in Saudi Arabia, their goal is to make the Saudi Aramco recruitment process as straightforward and smooth as possible for you.


Whether it’s our recruiters updating you on


interview arrangements, the specialist adviser helping you through the relocation process, or the expatriate recruitment representative meeting you at the airport, you’ll be supported by experts at every stage. For more information, please visit www.jobsataramco.eu With a population of just over 24 million


people, Saudi Arabia is the largest oil-exporting nation in the world and it is estimated that beneath her territory lies more than a quarter of the world’s known oil reserves – more than 260 billion barrels. Aramco dates back to the formation of a


consortium of American oil companies (the Arabian American


Oil Company), and the


Saudi government assumed full ownership in 1980, renaming it Saudi Aramco.


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