Networking
Shipping is a truly globalised industry and education is becoming increasingly globalised as well. It is observable that MET is lagging in this trend and as such needs to develop to take advantage of the globalised market place.
If the future for maritime education and training is to focus on quality and flexible delivery it will also involve the growth of meaningful alliances. Networks, such as TRAINMAR, AMETIAP and IAMU already exist as do alliances between MET institutions and alliances between the users and providers of MET. However, these alliances will become more important in future to ensure that the accessibility and quality of MET is improved.
Alliances take a variety of forms which include memoranda of understanding (MoU), joint ventures (JV) and membership of networks. Within the business that is MET most of these alliances are aimed at institutional strengthening but it is evident that the customer needs for greater access to MET and the need for MET to be more financially self-sufficient will drive future alliances more towards business partnerships.
Memoranda of Understanding
Many MET institutions have MoUs, mainly with other MET institutions. Such MoUs generally deal with institutional strengthening and involve such things as student and staff exchanges. AMC has signed numerous MoUs however, there has been a discernable increase in activities carried out under the terms of a MoU since STCW 95 has begun to bite and we have discounted fees for staff and students from the other MoU signatory. Staff exchange activity has also increased and it seems likely that MoUs which, in the past, may have been signed out of courtesy may now be genuinely useful in improving the quality of MET.
Joint Ventures
Already there exist any number of joint ventures between users and providers of MET as well as joint ventures between MET institutions. These joint ventures are business alliances for the mutual financial benefit of the partners. As examples Singapore Polytechnic has a joint venture with ABS related to the provision of quality assurance services to other MET institutions, AMC has a joint venture with the Institute of Shipping Management in Singapore to provide maritime education programs for shore-based staff, whilst AMCs newest joint venture with the Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College (CINEC) is aimed, amongst other things, at integrating AMC and CINEC seafarer programs.
Networks
Networking between MET institutions has tended to be somewhat superficial with many 'warm and fuzzy' MoUs being the order of the day but not much in the way of actual activity. This changed in 1996 with the creation of the Association of Maritime Education and Training Institutions in Asia Pacific (AMETIAP).
AMETIAP is a good example of a vibrant network at work and illustrates two important points:
