Page 11: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (December 2019)

“The sector is entering what has been dubbed Maritime 4.0, including the emergence of autonomous ships, ‘connected’ ports and harbors, and

Photo courtesy Lloyd’s Maritime Academy the growth of alternative fuels and green ship technology. These are devel- opments which have not been around for long and making sure personnel are kept on top of these rapid advancements is a major challenge.” tions across the globe. However, global research form that is easy to navigate and follows the latest conducted by Lloyd’s Maritime Academy (LMA) evidence and best practice in instructional design.

has revealed that over 41% of professionals from • Course content is regularly updated and re- the maritime industry still receive no funding ? ects the latest values, industry trends, ? ndings, from within their business for training. This sta- legislative changes… tistic highlights the need for companies to demon- • Quality control in terms of external quality strate more commitment to training, to invest time assurance and accreditation is provided by indus- in building professional development and map out try bodies and/or established educational institu- a variety of career paths to attract new people and tions.

close the existing skills gap. • Availability of stimulating course materials

At the same time, the importance of proactive in a range of different formats that encourage en- lifelong learning in maritime has never been more gagement, such as a combination of short videos, important and, according to LMA data, the share written content and audio content. of self-paying learners has been growing mark- • Emphasis on the quality of interaction not edly. Better internet connectivity at sea and new, just with the tutor but also among learners from agile e-learning delivery models are facilitating around the world. High value training incorpo- lifelong learning of seafarers. This trend is set to rates both high quality of information and also the continue with the application of technologies such core fundamentals of good teaching which ensures as virtual reality that is changing the way “older” the information is properly absorbed and used in on the job deck training programs are delivered. practice. This is where many online courses, for

Regularly reviewed and easily adaptable training example MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) packages to match new skills requirements are struggle, with attendance normally dropping off further driving the uptake of online training pro- the cliff after the ? rst session. grams. • Most importantly, the program needs to be part of someone’s lifelong learning journey and

E-learning that supports a be useful to their career progress. maritime professional’s lifelong learning At Lloyd’s Maritime Academy we always chal-

Online learning is not just important for foster- lenge learners to really understand their needs, ing lifelong learning of current maritime profes- motivations and longer-term goals to be able to sionals. It is becoming ubiquitous if the industry facilitate their lifelong learning at any stage, is to meet the expectations of new generations from introductory certi? cations to a full MBA. entering the workforce. Growing up as digital na- Several courses are accredited and awarded by tives, their standards have been shaped by online reputable educational institutions or professional experiences created by tech giants. A training en- associations, such as Middlesex University Lon- vironment experienced by their parents 20 years don, North Kent College and Chartered Manage- ago may not seem like an attractive employment ment Institute, with several courses contributing proposition anymore. towards Royal Institution of Naval Architects

There are some key principles to look out for (RINA) and IMarEst CPD requirements.

when establishing whether an online training pro- By following the path of lifelong learning and gram is relevant to someone’s career progress and taking responsibility for upgrading our skills we provides a high-quality learning experience: can all play a big role in the next exciting chapter • Learning is delivered via a user-friendly plat- of the maritime industry’s transformation.

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