・the positive value of an active network focussed on the real needs of members;
・the commitment by those member MET institutions which can assist to help those member MET institution which cannot so easily help themselves.
AMETIAP has the potential to improve the quality of MET provided by its members and the greater the support it receives from the stakeholders of MET institutions the greater the probability that the quality of seafarer graduates will improve.
A new and emerging network is the recent alliance between Kobe University of Mercantile Marine (Japan), Istanbul Technical University (Turkey), AMC (Australia), University of Wales College of Cardiff (Wales), Maine Maritime Academy (USA), Arab Academy of Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (Egypt), and the World Maritime University (Sweden) known as the International Association of Maritime Universities. This alliance aims to activate ways in which maritime universities can cooperate to provide high quality, genuine university level, undergraduate and post graduate education and training for both seafarers and shore-based employees. This initiative has the support of the Nippon Foundation for the next 5 years and has the potential to improve quality, provide avenues for greater use of flexible delivery as well as identify business opportunities.
These alliances, be they MoUs, JVs or networks, are the way of the future. Their greatest potential is to increase the accessibility of MET to students, improve the quality of MET, and assist the financial self-sufficiency of MET institutions. This should not be ignored as a way forward for both the users and providers of MET.
The Potential for AMETIAP
There is undoubtedly great potential for AMETIAP to flourish as MET embraces flexible delivery, quality and strategic alliances. With a membership of 50 there are 1225 connections possible between members and with modern communications systems, particularly the internet, the potential for members to communicate and capitalise on the strengths of each other is enormous.
AMETIAP is really in its infancy and as such we, the members, need to think for the future. We have a set of objectives which relate to public representation, member services and the development of MET in general but, with some successes achieved, it is timely to look to the next decade and as such the Draft AMETIAP Charter 2000-2010 (Attachment 1) provides a focus for us to actively consider our collective future in a globalised MET world.
