Global Maritime Education & Training Association (GlobalMET)

Contact Information

About

The Global Association of Maritime Education and Training (GlobalMET) is a network established in 1996 by maritime education providers in the region. The initiative to form an Asia Pacific regional association grew out of a series of informal gatherings, initiated with the meeting of Heads of Maritime Education and Training Institutions in Asia Pacific, convened and hosted by the Australian Maritime College in 1989. The establishment of AMETIAP arose from the participants’ desire to support the aims and objectives of IMO for 'safer ships and cleaner oceans' and recognition of: * the vital importance of maritime education and training in fulfilling the needs of expanding trade and economic growth in the Asia Pacific region; * the urgent need for collective efforts in maritime education and training to promote greater safety at sea and protection of the marine environment. The aim of GlobalMET is to promote, develop and support in the spirit of cooperation the common interests of its members in all matters concerning the development and quality of maritime education and training.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION GlobalMET, formerly the Association of Maritime Education and Training Institutions in Asia Pacific (AMETIAP), is a network established in 1996 by maritime education and training providers in the region. 1 Genesis and Formation The initiative to form an Asia Pacific regional association grew out of a series of informal gatherings, initiated with the meeting of Heads of Maritime Education and Training Institutions in Asia Pacific, convened and hosted by the Australian Maritime College in 1989. Four meetings followed - at Dalian Maritime University in China, Fiji Institute of Technology in Suva, Far Eastern State Maritime Academy in Vladivostok and at the New Zealand Maritime School in Auckland. The Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization expressed strong support and senior IMO officials attended the meetings. At the Auckland meeting in December 1995, it was unanimously resolved to establish an Asia Pacific regional association. Consequently, representatives of some 18 maritime education and training institutions in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, the Philippines, Russia and Singapore met in the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in September 1996 and inaugurated the network. In addition to the support from IMO, support for the initiative also came from the Hong Kong Shipowners’ Association and the Hong Kong maritime unions. In December 2002, the network was incorporated in Australia as ‘AMETIAP (Global) Ltd’. Steps are now being taken to change the name to the ‘Global Maritime Education and Training Association’, with the working name ‘GlobalMET’. 2 Aims and Objectives The establishment of GlobalMET arose from the participants’ desire to support the aims and objectives of IMO for ‘safer ships and cleaner oceans’ and recognition of • the vital importance of maritime education and training in fulfilling the needs of expanding trade and economic growth in the Asia Pacific region; • the urgent need for collective efforts in maritime education; and • training to promote greater safety at sea and protection of the marine environment. The aim of GlobalMET is to promote, develop and support in the spirit of co-operation the common interests of its members in all matters concerning the development and quality of maritime education and training. GlobalMET’s Objectives are to: • provide a forum for the exchange of views among members; • foster, develop and maintain close cooperation between and among members on matters relating to maritime education and training including maritime research and development and other matters of mutual and/or collective interest; • extend assistance consistent with its policies and capabilities to any member; • formulate a common stand on issues of interest related to maritime education, training, research and development; • improve or assist in improving the services provided by members through the efficient and economic utilisation of resources; • represent the general membership in its collective dealings with external organisations; • acquire, collate, process and disseminate data and material of common interest to all members. 3 Membership As of 01 December 2006, GlobalMET had 98 Member institutions in 28 economies: Australia 5 Bangladesh 1 Bulgaria 1 Canada 2 Chile 1 China 11 Cyprus 1 Georgia 1 Greece 2 India 17 Indonesia 2 Japan 2 Malaysia 1 Maldives 1 New Zealand 2 Norway 1 Papua New Guinea 2 Philippines 22 Russia 2 Singapore 4 South Africa 1 Sri Lanka 4 The Netherlands 1 Trinidad & Tobago 1 Tuvalu 1 United Kingdom 4 United States 3 Vietnam 2 In addition there are 9 Associate Members in 5 economies, which are organisations and individuals not providing maritime education and training as a core activity, or providing specialist MET services, but wishing to support MET development through GlobalMET. Honorary Membership has been awarded to: the late Prof Takeshi Yagi, of the Training Ship Education Support Association of Japan; Dr Moustafa M Abdel Aziz, former Head, Training Institutions Support Section, IMO; Mr Noel Snelleksz OBE, formerly Principal, Papua New Guinea Maritime College; Dr Barrie Lewarn, formerly Faculty Director, Australian Maritime College Mr Swapan Das Sarma, formerly Director, Singapore Maritime Academy World Maritime University Dr Hayama Imazu, Professor, Tokyo University of Marine Science & Technology in recognition of their strong support for GlobalMET and their contributions to the development of maritime education and training in the Asia Pacific Region. GlobalMET’s Board of Directors, elected at the Annual General Meeting in Manila in November 2005, comprises representatives of Anglo- Eastern Ship Management (Chair), New Zealand Maritime School (Vice chair), Australian Maritime College (Secretary/Treasurer), Tokyo University of Marine Science & Technology (Imm Past Chair) and the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific. Seafood & Maritime Industries Training Centre and Singapore Maritime Academy are Co- opted Members. 4 Members’ Needs Members’ needs have been identified by surveys of member institutions. From the 50 identified potential GlobalMET activities, the 6 priority needs [ranked by greatest need and by weighted need] are: 1. Training in teaching Maritime English Training for MET teachers Develop mutual recognition of standards Exchange teachers Improve co-operation [eg newsletter] 6. Standardisation of computer and simulation training. [Note: needs 2-5 varied in order slightly, depending on whether highest weighted need is used]. GlobalMET has conducted and is initiating activities to address these needs. 5 Activities and Achievements As a result of the identification of needs, IMO agreed to fund joint IMO-GlobalMET Pedagogical Workshops for maritime trainers in the Asia Pacific region. The first 10-day workshop for participants from GlobalMET member institutions was conducted at Singapore Polytechnic in January 1999, the second at Shanghai Maritime University in September 1999 and the third at the Magsaysay Institute of Shipping in June 2000. All were very successful. Significant progress has been made with the training of teachers of Maritime English. Since 1994, graded programs in teaching Maritime English have been provided for GlobalMET Member Institutions in Vladivostok, Hong Kong, Dalian, Shanghai, Qingdao and Manila; over these 10 years, the training has been developed from an introductory Stage I, through to the more advanced Stage III level all of which have now been delivered in Tokyo, Vladivostok and Manila; specific evaluation conducted at the conclusion of each training program has proved very positive, a common factor being requests for further training. Designed and developed by an GlobalMET Member, these training programs have been conducted in Tokyo in association with the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology and the National Institute of Sea Training, with the Maritime State University in Vladivostok, with Dalian and Shanghai Maritime Universities, with the Qingdao Ocean Shipping Mariners College and in association with the Magsaysay Training Centre in Manila. Funding support was provided by the Nippon Foundation, the Maritime State University, COSCO and the International Maritime Training Trust. As a result of the above collaboration between GlobalMET, the Tokyo University of Marine Science & Technology, the National Institute of Sea Training and the Nippon Foundation, the first “On-Board Maritime English Training for English Teachers” course was held on board the NIST vessel “Taisei Maru” on 5-15 January 2006, with overseas participants from GlobalMET member institutions in the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Tuvalu and the USA. The GlobalMET Member assisting development of the above training programs also represented GlobalMET and had significant input into the International Maritime English Conferences in St Petersburg in 2003, in Manila in 2004 and in Marseilles in October 2005. In 2000-2006, annual conferences on developing maritime education and training in India have been held in Mumbai, as well as seminars Chennai, Delhi and Kolkata. Issues with significant potential for mutual benefit in developing further collaboration have been identified. In June 2001, GlobalMET collaborated with the Hong Kong Ship Owners Association in a workshop on Maritime Education and Training in China, held in Shekou, Shenzhen PRC. In April 2004 an agreement was signed between DNV SeaSkill and GlobalMET whereby they would collaborate on the development and implementation of Guidelines for the Certification of Delivery of Courses in Maritime Education and Training Institutions – implementation will commence in the near future. In October 2004, GlobalMET conducted a one- day seminar in Shanghai on MET: What is Wrong? What to Do? Conclusions were reported to the 2nd LSM Manning & Training in China Conference and the 10th Interim Meeting of the Seafarers Committee of the Asian Shipowners’ Forum in Jakarta in November and also at the GlobalMET conference in Mumbai in April 2005. The findings received further consideration at the GlobalMET 2005 Conference in Manila in November. GlobalMET participates in the annual meetings of the Seafarer’s Committee of the Asian Shipowners’ Forum. In addition to the ongoing liaison with IMO, discussions about possible future joint activities have been initiated with the ILO and other peak bodies. In association with the 2nd and subsequent annual general meetings, GlobalMET has hosted well attended and highly participative conferences: • In Singapore in December 1997, in association with the Singapore Maritime Academy, which addressed the themes: The revised International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978; and Maritime Education and Training into the 21st Century; • In Shanghai in October 1998, in association with Shanghai Maritime University, which addressed the theme: Education for Safer Ships and Cleaner Oceans; • In Tokyo in December 1999, in association with Tokyo University of Mercantile Marine, which addressed the theme: Education for a More Efficient, Safer and Cleaner Shipping Industry: Formulating the GlobalMET Charter 2000 - 2010; • In Launceston in November 2000, in association with the Australian Maritime College, which addressed the theme: Education for a More Efficient, Safer and Cleaner Shipping Industry: After the White List What next? • In Mumbai in January 2002, in association with Anglo-Eastern Ship Management, which addressed the theme: GlobalMET in India: Progressing the Issues; • In Manila in November 2002, in association with member institutions in the Philippines, which addressed the theme; Education for a More Efficient, Safer and Cleaner Shipping Industry: Quality in MET; • In Vallejo in October 2003, in association with the California Maritime Academy, which addressed the theme: Education for a More Efficient, Safer and Cleaner Shipping Industry: Maritime English, Maritime Technology and Safety Through Security; • In Vladivostok in September 2004, in association with the Maritime State University, which addressed the theme: Education for a More Efficient, Safer and Cleaner Shipping Industry: The Role of MET Institutions in Improving Marine Safety and Environmental Protection; In Manila in November 2005, in association with member institutions in the Philippines, which addressed the theme; Education for a More Efficient, Safer and Cleaner Shipping Industry: MET to Meet Industry Needs. In Singapore in October 2006, in association with Singapore Maritime Academy, which addressed the theme; Education for a More Efficient, Safer and Cleaner Shipping Industry: Meeting Modern Needs. In addition, with the contacts made through participation in GlobalMET, a number of members are actively liaising with one another in assisting development. Newsletters, current news topics and the membership list are posted on the website www.ametiap.com. A new website is being developed. 6 Future Directions Activity will continue to focus on assisting members and developments in the region through serving as a highly interactive network and ‘voice’ for providers of maritime education and training. While initial focus is on seafarer training, the aims and objectives encompass the whole spectrum of maritime education. GlobalMET is also very conscious of the need to support the aims and objectives of the International Maritime Organisation, as expressed in the preamble the IMO Constitution. With the rapid growth in maritime activity and greater utilisation of the wealth of the oceans, establishment of this regional network is timely. GlobalMET has considerable potential to assist its members and to cooperate with IMO, the ILO, the ASF and other peak organisations in ensuring the provision of the maritime education and training essential to an efficient, safe and clean global industry. 7 Conclusion The maritime education and training institutions in Asia Pacific have, of their own accord, created a viable network with major potential to assist the development of maritime education and training. GlobalMET now seeks more growth on a global basis and to develop greater collaboration with peak bodies and other organisations in the shipping and other maritime industries, in realising this significant potential to develop a global approach to quality maritime education and training for seafarers and others employed in the maritime industry. RFS 06 December 06