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SHIPYARD TRAINING “Currently, the NCCER Core, which is the prerequisite to all Fitter curriculum and evaluates an individual’s knowledge of of NCCER’s Level 1 curricula is being used in many second- the craft. Assessment questions correlate back to competen- ary career tech programs in the U.S. to give high school stu- cies and modules in the curriculum so a training prescription dents basic skills needed to continue training in the craft areas can be provided.

they choose. The NCCER Core and Introduction to the Mari- NCCER’s Havlik takes it a step further, saying, “The train- time Industry module make up the Maritime Industry Fun- ing prescription a candidate receives after completing the damentals curriculum. NMEC’s ongoing role and the role of assessment includes a transcript of the test session showing member companies in this process is to encourage the use of where the individual needs improvement and referencing spe- this curriculum in career tech programs in local high schools.” ci? c NCCER training modules that pinpoint particular tasks

Eventually, and in addition to giving students a basic por- and objectives for additional training. These detailed train- table credential and feeding the talent pipeline, it generates ing prescriptions allow contractors to immediately develop some much-needed awareness for the industry. Jeff Allmann a skills-upgrade training plan tailored to address the exact says that efforts to expand the curriculum to a wider audience skills the individual needs to improve for career development. are being met with enthusiasm. For example, he says, “Thus Through upgrade training, individuals can acquire valuable far we have encouraged our public sector partners – commu- skills while earning credentials for training completions.” nity colleges and high school career tech programs – to adopt In early November, U.S. DOT Secretary Foxx released new

NCCER Marine Curriculum. Mississippi Gulf Coast Com- shipbuilding and repair data at the Shipbuilders Caucus fo- munity College and Bishop State Community College have rum, hosted by the Navy League and Shipbuilders Council of already done so. America. The new data shows that the shipbuilding industry

Since the release of NCCER’s Maritime Structural Fitter is in fact growing, supporting more than 110,000 jobs from curriculum in 2014, NMEC has seen success among industry coast to coast and providing more than $37.3 billion in an- and education partnerships. One example of industry work- nual GDP. As such, any thought that a cyclical slowdown for ing with education is Gulf Coast Community College’s rela- domestic builders also portends the end of the need to recruit tionship with Huntington Ingalls in Pascagoula, Mississippi. and train a new generation of mariners is simply shortsighted.

Another partnership is between Austal USA and the Alabama For its part, the stakeholder-supported NMEC is making sure

Industrial Development Training facility in Mobile, Alabama. that mistake doesn’t happen.

As NMEC seeks to be an advocate for the industry as it

Coming Soon: Meaningful Assessments – and more … relates to issues involving workforce development, it has also

For mariners, “assessments” have become standard practice become a resource for relevant national workforce data that in determining an individual’s ability to accomplish the tasks can be used by employers and to inform policy makers about that he or she has been credentialed for. These assessments are the workforce needs of the industry. The shipyard industry now commonly used to determine which individual might get has plenty of needs. Job ONE, however, is the development promoted, as well as to pre-screen potential employees. Simi- of another generation of shipyard workers. At NMEC, in con- larly, in 2016, NCCER will release journey-level knowledge cert with myriad industry stakeholders, that process is well and performance assessments for its Maritime Structural Fit- underway. A widening curricula, provided at an (even more) ter curriculum. NCCER’s Maritime Structural Fitter journey- affordable price, holds the key for the way forward. level written assessment is based on the Maritime Structural NMEC on web: www.maritimeeducationcouncil.org 28 Maritime Professional 4Q 2015| | 18-33 Q4 MP2015.indd 28 11/18/2015 10:11:36 AM