Continuous quality improvement management framework for Indonesian maritime education

This qualitative research develops a data-driven management framework for continuous quality improvement in Indonesian Maritime Education and Training institutions, addressing critical gaps between simulator capabilities, STCW requirements, and operational demands. Through interviews with twelve participants—five maritime lecturers, five seafarers, and two port masters—the study identifies significant barriers to utilizing simulator performance data for curriculum development, including technological constraints (10%), institutional inertia (24%), and limited data literacy (28%). Findings reveal three-way competency misalignment, with critical gaps in green technologies (6.8/10.0) and environmental compliance (5.5/10.0). Overall quality improvement maturity scored 5.8/10.0, with particularly weak simulator data utilization (4.5/10.0) and graduate follow-up systems (3.9/10.0). The proposed framework integrates learning analytics, industry partnerships, and professional development through phased implementation pathways adapted for resource-constrained archipelagic contexts, providing actionable guidance for MET administrators, educators, and policymakers supporting workforce development for sustainable maritime transitions.