**4.2. International certification and local accreditation requirements**

The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) was formed in the year (1921) by some member states, with principal objective to ensure that all the world's seas, oceans, and navigable waters are surveyed and charted, to provide safe navigation for mariners. Its vision is to act as the sole authority worldwide to provide governance and guide for global hydrographic activities. The IHO is a United Nations observer organization. Its mission is "to create a global environment in which States provide adequate and timely hydrographic data, products and services and ensure their widest possible use" [28]. Some 85 coastal states are engaged as members of the IHO and work on promoting and advancing maritime safety, including the protection and sustainability of the marine environment. The international board handles the accreditation process in the IHO on Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors and Nautical Cartographers (IBSC). It regulates and accredits academic programs and departments that provide certification for professional hydrographers and nautical cartographers. The competency standards are according to Standard 5 revision 11 of the IHO regulations [28].

The Department of Hydrographic Surveying offers a Bachelor of Science degree (B.Sc.) in hydrographic surveying. The program was designed to meet the requirements of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) as Category A (CAT-A), according to the latest revised edition of the Standards of Competence for Hydrographers guidelines [28]. The program was recognized in April 2013 as IHO accredited program for (CAT A) professional certification. IHO accreditation provides worldwide recognition for graduates in their level of competence to perform advanced hydrographic surveying skills globally, regardless of their service region. The process of accrediting the Department of Hydrographic Surveying by the IHO was started in 2007 when the Saudi General Commission invited the president of the IHO for survey (GCS). The preparation of the department profile for submission to the IHO involved discussions among the department, the GCS, and the IHO; this has initiated the communication with the IHO. Later, in 2007, the Saudi authorities organized an international workshop in Capacity Building, hosted by local authorities and convened in the City of Jeddah. In December 2012, the Department of Hydrographic Surveying presented its portfolio at the annual meeting of the IBSC in April 2013, where the recognition of the program as Category "A" accredited institution, the highest recognition in the IHO scheme of two categories was granted.

The international interest expressed by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) was evident. The Capacity Building administration of the IHO was working hard to expand the presence of IHO- certified hydrographers in many regions of the world. A high delegation from the IHO has visited Saudi Arabia several times in the past 10 years. A meeting with the president of the IHO was held during his visit to Saudi Arabia to attend activities related to the GCS. A second meeting with the IHO representatives took place during the IBSC visit to attend a regional event in 2014. These two sessions with the administration revealed keen interest for support from the IHO, for the establishment of an international program at King Abdulaziz University.

The hydrographic Surveying Department has maintained a strong international support and collaboration with many organization including the Interdisciplinary Centre for the Development of Ocean Mapping (CIDCO) in Canada in hosting student training programs. CIDCO is a marine geomatics R&D organization that hosts IHO recognized program. ENSTA Bretagne in France has also provided support to the program by delivering training for students in 2012. ENSTA Bretagne is a French national graduate engineering institute with reputed contribution to hydrography. A delegation of the chapter of the UK Hydrographic Society in UAE has visited the program and showed interest in sponsoring professional talk series in UAE, where representatives of the program can participate and share insight with practitioners into the domain of hydrography.

The Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) has approved the membership of the graduates of hydrographic surveying program. The objectives of SCE are to promote the engineering profession. The council exercises many roles to do whatever may be necessary to develop and upgrade its standards, however, currently the membership of Hydrographic Surveying graduates to the SCE is under review [32]. The mandate of the SCE stipulates that it determines the suitability of the program in terms of accreditation requirements. Till the year 2015, the graduates of the program are recognized as individual members of the SCE according to the SCE regulations.

### **4.3. Stakeholders' requirements**

Marine Geology for Hydrographers, Offshore Geophysical Surveying and special topics in

The field training provides the required field skills as outlined by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) guidelines [28]. Over two terms of 6 weeks on the board of a hydrographic survey vessel, students gain the required practical knowledge needed to work with different data acquisition systems. The focus of the core skills that students get while on training covers field calibration of single beam/multibeam echo sounder, multibeam system patch test, and reference systems. The students are also involved in the survey design and

The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) was formed in the year (1921) by some member states, with principal objective to ensure that all the world's seas, oceans, and navigable waters are surveyed and charted, to provide safe navigation for mariners. Its vision is to act as the sole authority worldwide to provide governance and guide for global hydrographic activities. The IHO is a United Nations observer organization. Its mission is "to create a global environment in which States provide adequate and timely hydrographic data, products and services and ensure their widest possible use" [28]. Some 85 coastal states are engaged as members of the IHO and work on promoting and advancing maritime safety, including the protection and sustainability of the marine environment. The international board handles the accreditation process in the IHO on Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors and Nautical Cartographers (IBSC). It regulates and accredits academic programs and departments that provide certification for professional hydrographers and nautical cartographers. The competency standards are according to Standard 5 revision 11 of the IHO regulations [28].

The Department of Hydrographic Surveying offers a Bachelor of Science degree (B.Sc.) in hydrographic surveying. The program was designed to meet the requirements of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) as Category A (CAT-A), according to the latest revised edition of the Standards of Competence for Hydrographers guidelines [28]. The program was recognized in April 2013 as IHO accredited program for (CAT A) professional certification. IHO accreditation provides worldwide recognition for graduates in their level of competence to perform advanced hydrographic surveying skills globally, regardless of their service region. The process of accrediting the Department of Hydrographic Surveying by the IHO was started in 2007 when the Saudi General Commission invited the president of the IHO for survey (GCS). The preparation of the department profile for submission to the IHO involved discussions among the department, the GCS, and the IHO; this has initiated the communication with the IHO. Later, in 2007, the Saudi authorities organized an international workshop in Capacity Building, hosted by local authorities and convened in the City of Jeddah. In December 2012, the Department of Hydrographic Surveying presented its portfolio at the annual meeting of the IBSC in April 2013, where the recognition of the program as Category "A" accredited institution, the highest recognition in the IHO scheme of

planning, hydrographic surveying specifications, and types of hydrographic surveys.

**4.2. International certification and local accreditation requirements**

hydrography.

56 Trends in Geomatics - An Earth Science Perspective

two categories was granted.

The support that hydrographic surveying program gets goes far beyond the university top academic administration. The initiation of the program was completely backed up by an advisory board of government and industry. This support secured that the program meets the need of local and regional employers, and provides international standards for training and education. Specific support was evident from the Saudi Aramco, Saudi Ports Authority, Ministry of Transportation, and the Saudi Military Survey Department. Some mutual visits and consultations with the Saudi General Commission for Survey (GCS), Saudi Navy, the Saudi Geological Survey, and the Saudi Coast Guard helped with shaping their operational requirements. The success of the program in securing support from government stakeholders, as well as private stakeholders represented by industry members from Saudi Arabia, provided added value to the program design. Regional support from relevant stakeholders from the United Arab Emirates, who expressed interest in attracting students to work with them on various projects, represented another evidence of the program success. The foundations for collaboration and support have emerged in some mutual agreements and MOUs. All graduates of the program in 2014 were hired by GCS as hydrographers and resumed their duties with positive feedback from their managers.

The program was successful to form industry advisory committee that brings all relevant stakeholders. The committee was successful in providing requirements and considerations for future employees, in the field of hydrographic surveying. Special extra meetings with Saudi Aramco, the leading international oil company and the General Survey Commission (GCS), in addition to leading private sector enterprises, provided some value insights into the program development.

The questions of the Interview has focused on different themes, the first topic was general questions, the second theme was focusing on what happened during the program, and the third issue was the overall process evaluation of the program, and the last subject was an assessment of the overall satisfaction with the program. The survey questions are shown in **Table 2**.

Lessons Learned from the Establishments of the First Hydrographic Surveying Program…

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82527

59

The results of the student's survey as shown below have highlighted the level of satisfaction a large number of students have expressed in the program were rated on a scale of 1–5 where five were extremely satisfied, and one is extremely dissatisfied. The results as seen in **Figure 4** have all presented a good level of satisfaction except in 10, where some students have raised a flag on the course reference. This was before securing the IHO recognition, where the course material used was not very well structured. However, the matter has been improved in the following years. These results are cumulative results for the entire period of the study. The (n)

The graduate's exit survey has utilized the NCAAA standard forms, and it was used to highlight the themes of help and support for learning, resources available for learners, and the evolution of student and the overall evaluation of the program. The number of students who completed the exit survey was 35 students; they answered some questions dealing with their overall experience in the program, and it was satisfactory and supported 100% employment

The SMEs interviews have focused on analyzing challenges faced by the program, which falls into four broad challenges, i.e., administrative challenges, academic challenges, operational difficulties, and environmental problems. Each of these challenges requires a very intensive effort to tackle. KAU administration has significantly contributed to providing solutions to all the challenges faced by the program, as a result of the new establishment of the program.

The financial procedures have represented one of the biggest challenges regarding allocating budgets, and the spending in the newly established hydrographic surveying program is very generous. However, the financial routines are time consuming and take the time to complete, which delays the program in the beginning. King Abdulaziz University, with support from the Ministry of Higher Education, has contributed to solving this problem by allocating a budget for the new project, that is independent of the budget of the Faculty of Marine Science, the host of the new faculty. In fact, the budget for the new project has in many ways exceeded the budget of the hosting faculty. This has contributed to streamlining the process on spend-

Another challenge was characterized by the ambiguity in decision-making, in the form of having a new department with four subspecialties administratively under Marine Science. The department is following the standard decision-making process in the university. This decision-making process for the new department completed under the approval of the Faculty of Marine Science. King Abdulaziz University has supported independent decision-making

is equal to 35 from 10 years time.

rate within 6 months of graduation.

ing on facilities as equipment for the new faculty.

**5.1. Analysis of challenges**

*5.1.1. Administrative*
