The Development of an Online Course in Corrosion Engineering - A Critical Aspect in any Corrosion Management System

Through its ongoing partnership with Woodside Energy Ltd and Chevron Australia, Curtin University is currently developing online educational opportunities for postgraduate students, with the aim of assisting them to become qualified corrosion engineers. The course will be offered for the first time in first semester 2011. It is an initiative that will enable Curtin University to respond to the growing demand by industry for high quality graduates with a broad understanding of corrosion issues, particularly those relevant to the oil and gas industry. Further investment into corrosion education will also provide industry with practical solutions applying corrosion management and avoiding costly corrosion damage.

With the online corrosion engineering program, engineers can upgrade their qualifications without interrupting their career. This course has been established due to the interest generated from Oil and Gas industries, in particular Woodside and Chevron, the initiators and sponsors of this program.

As the program is industry driven, the learning outcome is directly relevant to the energy and resources industry. This course are offered in an online format to provide flexible learning opportunities for students who may already be in the workforce and do not have the opportunity to attend a formal university based class structure. The Curtin University Corrosion Engineering postgraduate course is unique to the Australasian region and offers an opportunity to study from the home location.

This paper will outline the lessons learned from the initial discussions to the first online delivery of the first unit. Providing internet access, the online learning environment will be demonstrated and students currently enrolled in the course will be invited to share their thoughts with the audience.

It is hoped that the Curtin model will be used to expand and develop additional units in collaboration with the University of Akron and the DoD to widen the target audience and that this course will also be offered through the University of Akron in the US.