EIVA has entered into a partnership with the College of Charleston and University of Washington on the BEAMS Program.

 

This joint journey will center around knowledge sharing and training across the Atlantic Ocean, concerned with matters below the water’s surface.

When EIVA learned of the College of Charleston and University of Washington BEAMS (benthic acoustic mapping and survey) Program, the opportunity of establishing a partnership focusing on knowledge sharing was an obvious ship to board.

We believe we have an obligation to partake in the further development of the survey industry. An obvious way of doing this is by contributing to the training of the next generation of surveyors, EIVA CEO Jeppe Nielsen said.

Head of the BEAMS Program, Dr Leslie Sautter, welcomes EIVA’s involvement: We are very energized to have EIVA as a BEAMS partner and grateful for their contribution to the program.

Learning not just the ropes but the software as well

The partnership revolves around internships at EIVA’s headquarters in Denmark and an annual 3-day training workshop, taught by EIVA instructors, where the EIVA software suite is put to use at both the College of Charleston and University of Washington. In an industry where knowing your way around a vessel is as important as knowing how to use the software tools at a desk, the training of future professionals very much depends on the level of access to such hands-on training.

The partnership will progress toward building a more qualified workforce, Dr Leslie Sautter said.

According to Jeppe Nielsen, sponsoring the BEAMS study program is an undertaking which EIVA expects to learn from as well, to the clients’ benefit: We hope to gain new input and insight into the direction and development of the industry. This will give us a deeper understanding of how we can continue to bring value to our customers by meeting future needs and requirements.

Internship leads to permanent employment

The first intern from the BEAMS Program to try her hands at the life as an EIVA employee is Veronica Regan Holton. She graduated from the College of Charleston in May 2012, majoring in geology. To her, the internship was an ideal way of improving her resume:

Candidates who know EIVA’s products are in high demand. While working here, I’ve learned a lot about how the software works as opposed to just following a company procedure. This deeper knowledge will allow me to be a better surveyor in the field.

Veronica started with EIVA in December 2012, and the planned five-month internship has already been prolonged, making Denmark her home for at least another year.