The vocational education in the maritime field is regulated by the International Maritime Organisation IMO’s International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). The Convention aims to universal regulation of maritime education, qualifications and watchkeeping – at least in reaching the minimum requirements. There are, however, major differences between different countries (and VET institutions) on the syllabus level in the contents and structure of maritime VET. The MariePRO project will provide valuable tools and background for the use of the VET institutions on their way to defining the common syllabus structure and content on the European level. It will be emphasized in the project that, when creating the common European framework for MET. The concrete aims of the project include examining the differences between VET institutions in the partner countries, organizing of workshops for maritime VET actors in the partner countries to discuss implementation of ECVET, producing of a Catalogue of Best Practices on ECVET implementation, and drafting an example syllabus for protection of the marine environment according to the STCW provisions. The MariePRO project arranges altogether six dissemination seminars/workshops for maritime VET teachers in different partner countries, and an international dissemination seminar at the end of the project. The aims of the dissemination workshops include gathering data on the syllabus differences between maritime VET institutions in the partner countries, changing views and compiling data on the practices of implementing ECVET in the maritime VET institutions and aviation sector, and disseminating and promoting of the project. The idea is to commit the VET institutions, teachers and other relevant actors within maritime education and training for adopting the project outcomes by providing them possibilities to participate and contribute to the outcomes in a form of interactive communication in the project events. The dissemination seminar in 2016 is more dedicated to dissemination and valorisation by introducing the project outcomes. The MariePRO projects aims to provide channels of interactions between European MET institutes, and pave the way for harmonization of syllabus contents in practice, providing the maritime VET actors in the partner countries as well as elsewhere in Europe with tools and preparedness to take actual steps towards implementing ECVET in their everyday activities. The broader aims of the project include promoting to student exchange between VET institutions on common-European and international level. The impacts of the project at the local and regional level include attracting attention to the maritime professions and raising attractiveness of local and regional MET institutes, and thus attractiveness and dynamics of the regions where the institutes are located. In a larger perspective, the project activities and dissemination actions will also increase the visibility of maritime sector professions and promote to the positive image of the sector. The partners MariePRO partner consortium comprise an experienced team with practical know-how on ECVET implementation processes in the maritime and benchmarking sectors, experience on ECVET challenges on maritime education and training, as well as project management know-how and professional networks on which to base the effective project actions. The project is coordinated by University of Turku, Finland, and the partners are Centre for Factories of the Future from the United Kingdom, Universitaet Bremen from Germany, Istituto Tecnico Trasporti e Logistica Nautico San Giorgio form Italy and Mediterranean Maritime Research and Training Centre from Malta.
The vocational education in the maritime field is regulated by the International Maritime Organisation IMO’s International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). The Convention aims to universal regulation of maritime education, qualifications and watchkeeping – at least in reaching the minimum requirements. There are, however, major differences between different countries (and VET institutes) on the syllabus level in the contents and structure of maritime VET. MariePRO - Promoting Maritime ECVET Actions project is to provid valuable tools and background for the use of VET institutes on their way to defining a common syllabus structure and content on the European level. MariePRO has examined the differences between VET institutes in the partner countries, organized workshops for maritime VET actors in the partner countries to discuss implementation of ECVET, produced a Catalogue of Best Practices on ECVET implementation, and an example syllabus on marine environmental awareness according to the STCW provisions. A Survey report on syllabus differences between maritime VET institutions in partner countries: Finland, Germany, Italy, Malta and the UK was drafted during the first phases of the project. The report presents the MariePRO project findings on transnational comparisons in VET/MET based on desktop surveys, discussions and conclusions of workshops for MET actors in the partner countries, as well as the results of an interview questionnaire for maritime VET actors in different countries. The areas examined include: the overall framework of MET, i.e., maritime institutes and training programmes as well as curricula of maritime institutes (incl. responsibilities & processes of planning), and other aspects relevant to maritime education and training, i.e., process of certification to become an officer, onboard training practices, e.g., who issues and who assesses the certificate. These aspects were examined against the national framework of education (incl. traditions & beliefs) and the VET structures and practices of the individual countries. The summary report concludes with the views of MET actors on the need for and their visions of harmonised maritime education and training. MariePRO dissemination seminars/workshops for maritime VET teachers were arranged in all the partner countries, as well as an international dissemination seminar in Finland at the end. The dissemination events provided the target groups, VET institutions, teachers and other relevant actors within VET/maritime education and training, with possibilities to change views and participate and contribute to the outputs of the project. MariePRO has provided the target groups, (maritime) VET actors, with tools and preparedness to take actual steps towards implementing ECVET in their everyday activities. The Catalogue of Best Practices on ECVET implementation shows different ways that ECVET is being applied across sectors and countries in the EU. Whereas, the example syllabus on marine environmental awareness, paving the way for harmonization of syllabus contents in practice, can be used as everyday tool in syllabus planning and teaching in MET institutes. The example syllabus provides a course outline as an instrument to implement a MET course on environment awareness, taking into account all maritime environment legislation. The course offers two options, a 2-day programme as a refresher course for the seafarers who have gone through the IMO course and are familiar with most of the updates; and a 5-day programme for incorporation into cadet education and training programme. The broader aims of the project include promoting to student exchange between VET institutions on common-European and international level. Promoting to these aims, the Catalogue of Best Practices on ECVET implementation provides showcases of different, innovative and effective approaches on ECVET implementation for other institutions to learn from. Examples of documentation tools such as Memorandum of Understanding and Learning Agreement are also provided. Whereas, the example syllabus on marine environmental awareness stands as a concrete example on syllabus contents harmonisation, based on international STCW regulations. The impacts of the project at local and regional level have been initiated by target group interviews and questionnaires, as well as dissemination events that have focused on topical issues in each particular country/area. The MariePRO partner consortium included universities, vocational training institutes and MET actors from Finland, Germany, Italy, Malta and the UK. The partners involved in the project included Centre for Factories of the Future (UK), ITTL Nautico San Giorgio (IT), Mediterranean Maritime Research and Training Centre (MT), University of Bremen, Institute Technology and Education (DE), and University of Turku, Centre for Maritime Studies (FI).