The region's bid to be at the forefront of the world's green energy industry has been boosted after the University of East Anglia (UEA) announced a postgraduate course in energy engineering and environmental management.

Substantial engineering know-how already exists across the university's faculty of science, notably in the fields of applied mathematics, energy resource and environmental management. This expertise is being built on in order to offer a new MSc in energy engineering with environmental management.

The university is known internationally for the quality of its research and teaching in related fields such as applied mathematics, computer systems engineering, geophysical sciences, physical oceanography and physical chemistry.

'Energy engineering is a natural progression from these areas of expertise,' said Dr Ben Milner, chairman of the university's engineering working party.

'We are very conscious that this is what employers want, particularly in the East of England which has a growing energy industry base, and we are confident that we can equip graduates with solid training in the fundamentals of engineering and its application to the energy sector.'

Students will be required to undertake a substantial engineering project as part of the MSc programme, including the chance to undertake practical assignments in an industry setting with an employer in the renewable and traditional energy sectors.

This programme will offer excellent career prospects to high calibre graduates in engineering industries. Accreditation is being sought from the Energy Institute to allow graduates of the course partial exemption towards CEng status.