MARS-NET aimed to achieve a strategic network for joint partners' facilities and teaching/learning practices exchange, seeking to obtain by implementation significant results on following directions: training skills improvement of the trainers, by good practices exchanges on different simulators offered by the partners, implementing a digital teaching framework for hard skills achievement; harmonized methodology for training resources to be achieved; dual education enhancement by developing the cadets’ abilities for online training on simulator facilities, using the digital resources in their training, onboard the ships during the cadetship - adaptation of present syllabuses and simulation exercises; building teaching resources for simulating exercises to digitize the teaching and training environment as a valuable supporting feature for “blending learning” methods enhancement; implementing harmonized training modules in order to value the partners’ experience, facilities and good practices into the network; institutional internationalization stimulated by organizing different events; new research methods and research areas of knowledge identified, where the simulators to used and valued on competitive basis.
The project mission has aimed to meet the dynamic needs of the stakeholders including students, industry and society, in parallel with the changing professional realities of the modern world from the maritime education sector, by developing a harmonized framework for teaching and research practices within the European Maritime Training and Education system, relying upon academic expertise exchange in learning by simulation methods, with an emphasis on valuing the regional partners potential for education and research, using in joint the simulator facilities and digital learning resources. The project promoted the knowledge transfer between the European Union regions, building a knowledge “bridge” between the Black Sea and Baltic Sea in areas of education and training, as follow up of previous implemented projects of the partners. The project addressed to the needs of complying with the STCW requirements in training for partner institutions based on an enhanced future competitiveness, bringing the teaching and learning strategies on a new updated level of digitization. The project offered an inter-regional joint framework in simulation learning system in maritime education, valuing the potential of developing skills by simulation.