The research presented in this paper focuses on the assessment of policies and curricula in maritime higher education institutions across several European countries, with an emphasis on understanding and enhancing micro-credentials. The research aims to improve maritime education and training through the analysis of the current status of micro-credentials at maritime institutions in Poland, Croatia, and Spain. This research is a part of the MICROMET project, funded under the Erasmus+ Programme, Action Type KA220-HED - Cooperation Partnerships in Higher Education. The project lasts for 30 months and is divided into five work packages. The project consortium consists of five partner institutions of which four representatives of higher maritime education institutions, and one is the maritime training center. Additionally, the associated partner is a shipping company. The research was divided into three phases, where the first one included the development of methodology for comparison of content of syllabuses at maritime higher institutions in Poland, Croatia, and Spain with content of STCW and non-STCW short-learning courses. In this part, the project consortium systematically analyzed approximately 150 syllabuses from participating institutions and compared them with over 100 non-STCW short courses and 15 STCW courses, focusing on the learning objectives, expected outcomes, instructional content, and pedagogical approaches. Through detailed comparisons, both qualitative and quantitative, the research aimed at identifying the alignment of current curricula with the STCW and non-STCW short courses tailored to various vessel types, particularly the LNG carriers, crude oil tankers and cruise ships. The second phase included the development of methodology for analysis of the current micro-credential status at maritime higher institutions. In this stage, the research involved data collection from participating institutions to determine the current status of micro-credentials. For this part, the key data that needed to be collected are related to the issuance of STCW certificates, including the number of certificates issued, certification procedures, and relevant student obligations. The data was gathered in order to identify trends and gaps in the current educational practices. In the last phase, the understanding of micro-credentials among management, administration, and faculty members, was evaluated. The evaluation was conducted by utilizing the questionnaires and exams to identify the knowledge gaps. Additionally, the focus groups made up of educators, students, and industry representatives were engaged in discussions to highlight areas for improvement in maritime curricula, ensuring that the educational programmes meet industry demands and stakeholder expectations. Overall, these initiatives are expected to significantly contribute to the quality and attractiveness of maritime education, thereby better preparing seafarers for the evolving challenges of the maritime industry.
Gundić et al. (Mon,) studied this question.