Modalities of Academia Panel Discussion on Process Safety
Moderator: Louisa Nara, Technical Director CCPS
Proposed Panel members: (4-5 Panel Members)
1. Kristen Kulinowski; US CSB Board Member; CSB
2. Dr. Risza; UTP, Malaysia
3. Prof. Arai; Tokyo University
4. Prof. Suzuki; Okayama University
5. Prof. Atsumi Miyake, Yokohama University
6. Prof. Peter Sumardi, PERTAMINA University, Indonesia
Whether graduates go into the petrochemical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, biochemical, biomedical, electrochemical or any other field in which chemical engineers practice, they will practice process safety. Governments around the world require that industry demonstrate that they operate with tolerable risk to society. Therefore, chemical engineering graduates must be as well versed in process safety as they are in the traditional aspects of chemical engineering education.
A panel will consist of representatives (HOD/Professors) from universities having process Safety in their curricula. Panelist will discuss issues of concern to academia including success stories.
The panelist will share their views and experience on following topics
- Current process Safety curriculum/topics offered by universities
- Challenges in delivering Process Safety education
- Expectations and support required from the industry
This panel discussion will also provide the platform for the interaction between industries and academia. Each panelist will make an opening remark following which views will be exchanged, both between the panelists and the audience. The discussions will be steered by a facilitator.
Model Questions for Academia Panel Members:
Every chemical engineering graduate practices process safety. Industry is demanding higher and more consistent-level of process safety knowledge for its new hires. Consequently, process safety should receive more emphasis than it currently does in the curriculum.
1) Please tell how your university deals with this challenge.
2) Which process safety related topics/subjects are covered in the curriculum?
3) Is there any accreditation requirement related to process safety education for the programme your university offering?
4) Do you provide certificate to the students who demonstrate proficiency in areas of process safety?
Most of the chemical engineering programs already at the maximum number of credits allowed by their university.
1) Where and how to add additional content related to Process safety that may not be readily available?
Approaches to offer process safety education
Process safety in an industrial facility is an important part of everyday activity. This best way is to integrate process safety throughout the entire chemical engineering curriculum. Much of the contents can be added to existing Heat transfer, Mass transfer, Thermodynamics, Chemical reaction engineering, Design and unit operations classes and to the laboratories.
Another approach is through dedicated safety course.
1) Which approach you have adopted?
2) How do you ensure that process safety programme/topics that your university is offering are in line with expectations of industries?
Faculty competency
Ideally process safety courses should be taught by full time faculty with some knowledge of industrial process safety practice and/or industrial experience.
1) How do you ensure faculty competency to teach process safety topics?