A LEADING figure in the offshore industry is flying halfway around the world to support Teesside University’s plans to become the world leader in flexible training for engineers.

Eric Garbutt, project director of engineering, project management and consultancy firm Amec, is among those attending next week’s launch of Teesside University Open Learning (Engineering) which will build on the success of its Cleveland Open Learning Unit (COLU).

The programme will take the online teaching it provides to a higher level for its part-time students on oilrigs and engineering construction sites all over the world.

Mr Garbutt is a COLU graduate, who enrolled on their HNC in Instrumentation after he could not get time off from his day job to further his studies.

He went on to gain an MSc in project management at Aberdeen University and has worked in the oil and gas sector in Canada, Algeria and Egypt.

He is currently Amec’s representative in the Zadco project, a $15bn scheme to build four artificial islands in the United Arab Emirates to boost oil production.

Middlesbrough-born Mr Garbutt said: “In the road map of life you will meet many crossroads. Most of us will stay on the straight and narrow because it’s easier.

“By gaining my HNC in Instrumentation at (the age of) 47, I took a turn in the road that led me to greener pastures.

“It made such a difference to my life and I am thrilled and delighted to support Teesside University Open Learning (Engineering) and my home town university.

“I am flying halfway round the world for the privilege of speaking at the event about how much it meant to me and the difference it made to my life. I have been honoured to meet the Queen in my working life and speaking on behalf of Teesside University’s open learning unit is up there with that experience.”

COLU has educated 30,000 students and employers in the offshore oil and gas industries over the past 25 years.

Chris Hoggarth, director of Teesside University Open Learning (Engineering), said: “Whether you’re on an oil rig in the Caribbean or working in pipeline construction in a desert, your professional development need not be interrupted – you can study at your own pace, effectively anywhere.”

For more information on the event, which starts at 4pm in the Stephenson Building, Teesside University, on Thursday, February 10, visit tees.ac.uk/tuole or call Mr Hoggarth on 01642-342450.