Subjecting Maritime Education and Training to tests to ensure high level of quality
For ensuring safety, efficiency and security in maritime transport and to protect the marine environment, GlobalMET laid emphasis on ‘monitoring quality in training’ at its Conference held at the Maritime Training Institute of the Shipping Corporation of India, Mumbai on 7th November, 2009. An annual feature since 2001 in Mumbai, this year GlobalMET set the pace for identifying key performance indicators for measuring effectiveness as a necessary tool for enhancing quality in maritime education and training (MET).
With representatives of nearly 17 countries taking part in this year’s GlobalMET (the 106-member organisation dedicated to maritime education and training across 36 economies globally) the conference became an excellent opportunity for an exchange of ideas and techniques that could be employed for “Monitoring Quality in Training – Key Performance Indicators.”
“Our performance guarantees the employers that whoever we train on their behalf have a high degree of competency,” informed Capt Tim Wilson, President of New Zealand Maritime School and Chairperson of GlobalMET. “In case any one we have trained is found wanting and incapable then we are ready to reimburse the entire cost spent by the company for training him. We have 6 key performing indicators (KPI): Employers’ satisfaction; students’ satisfaction; staff satisfaction; enrolment to pass rate; new enrolments and audit non-conformity.”
The Japanese system employs simulators and practical on-board training extensively with the objective of inculcating ‘a sense of responsibility, determination, endurance, spirit of co-operation and international minded outlook’ according to Capt Y. Kunieda, professor of the National Institute for Sea Training. He said, “Our goal is to deepen mutual understanding and enhancing policy co-operation with regard to seafarers between ASEAN countries and Japan.”
Extensive preparations are underway for the impending changes to the seafarer certification system in Australia according to Mohan P. Anantharaman, Head of Marine Engineering, National Centre for Ports & Shipping, Australian Maritime College. The focus is on ensuring in-depth knowledge being imparted to the trainees to prepare them for meeting any eventualities in their future maritime/naval career.
The Chilean system too has in-built quality checks in their maritime educational and training system informed the Ex-Chilean Coast Guard Commander, CIMAR Director, Jorge Imhoff. He explained that every institute was inspected regularly to ensure they comply with the standards certified by the administration. Examination and assessment of competence, approval of courses, regular reviews of policies, systems, controls and internal quality assurance are undertaken.
Though other preferred methods and systems took center stage at the event, Ms L. Venkatachalam, Director General of Shipping, Government of India who was the chief guest of the function contended, “The various issues of KPI could certainly be considered and brought into place. But at the end of the day it is important to know and ensure how best they can be translated to the field level, how we can measure them up and find out how the cadets go out and perform at sea.”