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Key factors affecting the quality of maritime education and training: empirical evidence from China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 January 2021

Junzhong Bao
Affiliation:
Marine College, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Yan Li
Affiliation:
Foreign Language College, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Zunlei Duan
Affiliation:
Center of Academic journals, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Tingting Li
Affiliation:
Public Administration and Humanities College, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Pengfei Zhang*
Affiliation:
Law School, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: shippinglaw@163.com.

Abstract

Recently, the quality of Maritime Education and Training (MET) has drawn more attention from employers of the shipping industry, because incompetent officers have frequently contributed to ship accidents. The authors intend to explore answers to three questions: (1) Is the quality of Chinese MET satisfactory to the maritime stakeholders? (2) What are the major factors affecting the quality of cadet training? (3) Are there feasible solutions to improve the quality of MET? The authors take China, a major seafarers supplying country, as empirical evidence to disclose the causes of the problems. By an exploratory factor analysis technique, this paper presents the findings of semi-structured interviews and questionnaire surveys and identifies four principal factors affecting the quality of MET in China. Shortage of skillful instructors, lack of onboard training, over-reliance on theoretical teaching, and limited funding sources are prominent factors in this context. Practical solutions are proposed for the purpose of improving the overall competence of Chinese cadets expected to become the dynamic workforce for the global shipping industry.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Navigation 2021

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