Annual General Assembly 2006 - Dalian

Project Session 1

The Changing Business Activity
Of UK Maritime Institutions

S. Bonsall, A. Wall, J. Wang

ABSTRACT

UK Maritime Institutions have had to adapt their business to fit the educational demands of the UK education system as well as meeting the demands of the shipping industry. UK examination targets at high school level are the General Certificates of Education (GCSEs) at 16 and a higher advanced level examination (A Levels) taken at 18 years of age. Traditionally the UK Merchant Navy recruited from a pool of GCSE students at age 16, however this diminishing pool has required that 18 year olds with A levels be targeted. The reduction of the UK fleet has meant that the flow of UK seagoing students to UK nautical colleges and universities has declined and UK maritime institutions have therefore had to adopt new strategies in order to remain viable. These strategies have taken a variety of forms. Non UK students have been attracted to MET programmes; new programmes have been devised taking in the wider maritime industry and various entry routes have been developed leading to careers in the Merchant Navy. This paper explores the effects on the business activity of UK MET institutions created by the changing educational requirements within the UK and the needs of UK shipping companies and the wider maritime industry.

Keywords: maritime institutions; Cadets; business activity; MET; educational requirements

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