Two issues were at the forefront of thinking during the revision process in relation to 'Quality Standards'. The expression 'To the satisfaction of the Administration' meant different things to different people in achieving standards. The introduction of quality criteria into STCW was designed to improve this situation. Secondly the change from 'knowledge based training and assessment' as a measure of competency to a 'skills acquisition' emphasis meant that the former was no longer an adequate measure. The skills requirement must be taken account of in the documentation of national and program objectives. Thus quality assessment becomes a key element in the challenge of ensuring quality through the STCW Convention.

In regard to MET, quality assurance can be interpreted as meaning 'Fitness for Purpose'. The new emphasis is to demonstrate achievement of the stated objectives and this involves four important steps, namely, documentation processes, compliance with procedures, self assessment of the operation and independent evaluation by an approved quality authority or body. STCW did not adopt a standard model such as the ISO 9000 series which provides a framework for any type of organisation to assure customers of compliance with claimed objectives. There is no single model to suit all maritime administrations or institutes, but whatever model is adopted, it must enable quality to be achieved (see figure 5). It may be a model located within a national scheme for accreditation of quality standards or an alternative model accepted by IMO. The administrative model should be flexible so as to respond to varying needs of industry and technology.

Figure 5: Quality Standards -links and interactions

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