Study supporting a possible network of maritime training academies and institutes in the Mediterranean Sea basin Final Report EASME / DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries May – 2016 Maritime Affairs Table of contents Abstract 2 Executive summary 3 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Background to the project 1 1.2 Purpose of this study 3 1.3 Methods and approach to the study 4 1.4 About this report 7 2 Overview of the maritime education and training offer and existing cooperation 1 2.1 Maritime Education and Training offer in the Mediterranean 1 2.1.1 Form, type and level of education and training 1 2.1.2 Relevant sectorial activities related to maritime education and training 6 2.1.3 Actors involved in the provision of maritime education and training 11 2.2 Cooperation in maritime education and training in the Mediterranean 13 2.2.1 Levels and types of cooperation between institutions 13 2.2.2 Geographic dimension 15 2.3 Stakeholder’s perspectives – results from the survey 20 2.3.1 Is there a mismatch between offer of skills and demand? 22 2.3.2 Benefits and barriers 23 3 Synthesis of Field investigations 25 3.1 VET On Board – ‘Marinate’ the nautical training offer in Barcelona 25 3.1.1 Context 25 3.1.2 Profile of Participants 25 3.1.3 Needs and Challenges 25 3.1.4 Rationale for Cooperation 26 3.1.5 How to make it work? 27 3.1.6 Conclusions and lessons learnt 30 3.2 A recent initiative from Malta: Malta Marittima 31 3.2.1 Context 31 3.2.2 Profile of Participants 31 3.2.3 Needs and Challenges 32 3.2.4 Rationale for Cooperation 33 3.2.5 How to make it work? 34 3.2.6 Conclusions and lessons learnt 36 3.3 Blue Career Centre for the Eastern Mediterranean 36 3.3.1 Context 36 3.3.2 Profile of Participants 37 3.3.3 Needs and Challenges 37 3.3.4 Rationale for Cooperation 38 3.3.5 How to make it work 40 3.3.6 Conclusions and lessons learnt 42 3.4 Skills for Blue Biotechnology and Aquaculture 43 3 Study supporting a possible network of maritime training academies and institutes in the Mediterranean Sea basin 3.4.1 Context 43 3.4.2 Profile of Participants 43 3.4.3 Needs and Challenges 44 3.4.4 Rationale for Cooperation 45 3.4.5 How to make it work? 46 3.4.6 Conclusions and lessons learnt 48 3.5 Exploring education and training cooperation opportunities in navigation safety 49 3.5.1 Context 49 3.5.2 Profile of Participants 49 3.5.3 Needs and Challenges 49 3.5.4 Rationale for Cooperation 50 3.5.5 How to make it work? 51 3.5.6 Conclusions and lessons learnt 54 4 Conclusions and recommendations: a ‘Passage Plan’ 57 4.1 Key findings from the study 57 4.2 A 'Passage Plan' for maritime education and training in the Mediterranean sea basin 60 4.2.1 Principles for future action 60 4.2.2 A ‘Passage Plan’ for EU, international and national policy makers 62 4.2.3 A ‘Passage Plan’ for maritime education & training practitioners 66 Annexes 69-201 4 Study supporting a possible network of maritime training academies and institutes in the Mediterranean Sea basin Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union. 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Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2016 ISBN 978-92-9202-205-1 DOI: 10.2826/28018 © European Union, 2016 Printed in Belgium EUROPEAN COMMISSION Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) Covent Garden Building Place Rogier, 16 B-1210 Brussels 1 Study supporting a possible network of maritime training academies and institutes in the Mediterranean Sea basin Abstract This study aims to provide policy makers with an assessment of the feasibility, added value and available options for promoting cooperation between institutions providing education and training for marine and maritime professions. An overall 355 educational and training institutes have been mapped across 21 Mediterranean countries, both in higher education and in VET. The maritime education and training offer appears rather fragmented and traditional – and does not fully match the requirements of tomorrow’s Blue Economy. The cooperation landscape consists of both project-based as well as structural initiatives, with a focus more so on higher education than on VET. Despite the many barriers identified, a strong interest in cooperation and integration exists amongst practitioners – as has been confirmed during five focus group sessions and one validation workshop held in Athens, Barcelona, Genova, Larnaca, Rome and Valletta. The research and subsequent exchanges have led to a ‘Passage Plan’, consisting of principles for action, and recommendations both for policy makers and practitioners. Most strategic is the recommendation to establish a Forum for Maritime Education and Training in the Mediterranean, and to make use of the Union for the Mediterranean Framework to host this initiative. Another ten recommendations are made for practitioners who wish to engage in such cooperation. 2 Study supporting a possible network of maritime training academies and institutes in the Mediterranean sea basin Executive summary Background and aim of the study Building on the Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP)1, the Blue Growth strategy2 is designed to provide policy makers at EU and sea basin level with a comprehensive, robust and consistent analysis of possible future policy options to support smart, sustainable and inclusive growth from the oceans, seas and coasts. In this context, the supply of a skilled workforce and the related education and training are key in order to maximise the potential of the Blue Economy. The Declaration for the Promotion of the Blue Economy in the Mediterranean region of the Ministries and other Heads of Delegation, who gathered in November 2015 under the Union for the Mediterranean banner3 stressed the need for the Mediterranean region to make the best use of the potential of the Blue Economy, to promote growth, jobs and investments. They also highlighted the skills mismatch of the labour force, as well as the slow uptake of clustering and networking, while concluding that regional cooperation and networking are necessary to deal with these challenges. Against this background, this study aims to provide policy makers with an assessment of the feasibility, added value and available options for setting in motion and/or reinforcing one or more (international) networks between institutions and organisations providing education and training for the needs of marine and maritime professions. Maritime education and training in the Mediterranean: a very complex and fragmented landscape According to our own mapping analysis, the number of educational and training institutions located in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea is 3554, and they are located in a range of 21 Mediterranean countries. A total of 40 % of the mapped organisations focuses on only one Maritime Economic Activity, while the remaining 60 % deliver education to more than one MEA. The focus in education and training in the maritime sector seems to be on the traditional sectors and seafarers, and less so on on-shore subjects. At the off-shore side one sees a very strong sense of pride within the workforce, along with strong international regulations and standards. In some cases these standards prevent institutions to innovate and expand beyond the traditional disciplines. The mapping exercise and the subsequent research has demonstrated the complexity of maritime education and training in this area due to: The variety of maritime economic sectors involved, such as (nautical and coastal) tourism, maritime engineering (shipping, ports, energy sector), coast guard and security (including monitoring) as well as life sciences required for advancing aquaculture, fisheries and biotechnology; The geographic diversity and big distances across this large-scale sea basin; the distance between Gibraltar in the west to Beirut in the east exceeds that from Gibraltar to Denmark; 1 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, An Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union, COM(2007) 575 final, 10.10.2007. 2 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Blue Growth opportunities for marine and maritime sustainable growth, COM(2012) 494 final, 13.9.2012. 3 http://ufmsecretariat.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/2015-11-17-declaration-on-blue-economy_en.pdf 4 Organisations for which it was not possible to determine the MEA were excluded 3 Study supporting a possible network of maritime training academies and institutes in the Mediterranean Sea basin The differences between EU and non-EU countries, not only in terms of socio-economic development but also in the means and feasibility of traveling (e.g. visa requirements) and formal and informal recognition of skills and qualifications; The coverage of both higher as well as vocational education systems, both of which are different in terms of set-up and remit; The number and diversity of institutions involved; varying from mainstream universities and dedicated maritime academies to sectoral organisations and employer’s organisations, public authorities, ministries, employment agencies, etc.