Today, technology and globalization are driving the greatest maritime change since the shift from sails to steam more than 150 years ago. Disruptors such as digitization, ship systems integration and automation, e-commerce, new technologies, and environmental regulations are driving dramatic changes within the maritime industry. These same forces are disrupting nearly every industry for which we prepare students, as well as the world of higher education.
How will we as an industry prepare our future workforce to face these challenges, to identify solutions, and to adapt to an ever-changing world?
It is no longer enough to know and understand concepts from a textbook, a chart or SOLAS regulations. In addition to the knowledge and skills they learn in college, students need to learn to be flexible enough to serve the demands of their rapidly changing workplaces. Beyond a given skill set, the future maritime workforce needs more than ever to learn the flexibility, adaptability, and creative and innovative problem-solving skills that will prepare them for changes to the industries in which they work and for the many different jobs and careers they are likely to hold.
To meet this challenge, we must deliver an education that integrates a rigorous, well-rounded academic education, a strong technical foundation, applied learning opportunities, and an emphasis on leadership and “soft skills” development. In this way, we will provide our graduates not only immediate employability in a competitive career environment, but also the character, adaptability, and ingenuity to succeed personally and professionally throughout their careers.
All of this presents an incredible challenge to the maritime industry, but we must anticipate and respond to education and training needs if we are to have a well trained workforce and to avoid personnel shortages and skill gaps. This will require stronger and more active partnerships with the maritime industry.