Dr Priyaankaa Mathur

To commemorate the 11th Foundation Day of the Maritime Trainers Guild (MTG) an online interactive webinar on the topic ‘Enhancing the Capabilities of Trainers and Training’ was organized on the 6^th Aug 2022.

The digital event brought under the scanner the need for better remuneration for the faculty in maritime education & training, while trainers, educationists, and senior industry leaders lent their insights over this searing issue.

Capt. Viraf Chichgar of Fleet Management Training Centre introduced MTG, which is a forum of knowledge and skill enhancement with a mission of achieving excellence in maritime training. MTG envisions creating a world-class association of maritime teaching facilitators, who will set international benchmarks in MET.

The webinar began with a Keynote address by Dr. Malini Shankar, VC, IMU, followed by Dr. Vijay K Jadon of Chitkara University, Punjab, who gave an expert lecture on the various aspects of ‘Outcome Based Education Framework’.

The centre-piece of the webinar, the Panel Discussion, was moderated by Capt. Shiv Halbe, CEO, MASSA. The Panelists included Mr. Jagmeet Makkar (Skills plus), Capt. MC Yadav (FOSMA), Mr. David Birwadkar (GEIMS) & Mr. Jasjeet Suri (CU SMS).

As part of the discussions, Mr. Halbe raised the question: “If we talk about good faculty, is the remuneration one of the important attributes of engagement, since the salaries given to the teachers are very small sums compared to sailing wages, and which are just not lucrative enough to attract ‘passionate’ teachers.

“Is this a contributory reason as to why we see the industry failing in attracting top-notch faculty?

Responding to the remark, Makkar said, “Training and Teaching are professions where passion comes first. But why expect these domain experts to work for free, or with minimal remuneration since they have an opportunity cost.

“Reasonable remuneration and recognition are very important for passionate marine educators, for whom we need a career path and a growth plan. Also, with many disruptions coming up, educators and trainers need continuous development and upgradation with courses, cross-faculty training, cross-functional training, which also in turn involve expense.”

FACULTY COST REMAINS A MAJOR CONSIDERATION

Birwadkar too spoke his mind. “I don’t know really how many passionate teachers there are in the industry. We find a lot of them are sixty plus, and who come at a very competitive price. So, people who are running the maritime education institutions and are looking at sustaining the institutes, therefore take the lower cost options.

“I think we need some incentives to be given by the government so that the salaries can be increased.

“Also, the scope of growth in MET is very less as compared to corporates and shipping companies.”

Capt Prabhat Nigam, the MTG President opined, “A multi-pronged approach can be one answer. Maybe a Master Mariner could be trained to teach a subject, and deliver it in a passionate way.

“Also, there is a lot of scope in the marine training profession, like R&D, writing books, and patenting our findings. There is a lot of international exposure; today the teachers have progressed- while they go on international tours they are paid in dollars. They are getting international recognition, and are invited as visiting professors in so many other universities.”

Suri said, “When people join the shipping industry they ask the educators, what are you getting paid, are you working part-time, full time or for free? So that acts as a deterrent, be it word of mouth or the practicality of what is happening.”

MONEY vs A TEACHING CAREER

Mrs. Shankar responded to the debate, saying: “If you are looking for money just don’t look at teaching, because teaching is about molding young minds, making a contribution to the sector.

“The learning process can be stimulated and guided with many methods, and that’s where the teachers are lacking. What and how you transmit to the students, so that the students understand- teachers should be able to give motivation and satisfaction to their students.

“When a person enters as Assistant Professor the remuneration is very low, as compared to the Professor, or Associate Professor; but later it is parallel to remuneration in other onshore jobs.

“What I want to appeal is that we need the right people to get into academics in both training and teaching.”

Chichgar said, “The market has a perception about the teacher’s remuneration, which is at the bottom of the offshore remuneration scales. To showcase the value of the trainer, we need to give solutions as a backend service, maybe as a consultant to the vessel. Its’ a question of redesigning maritime education by going outside the classroom and showing commercial value, that is self-sustaining.

“We have online training programs, online simulators, and many platforms for the faculty. With technology, you can be operationally and commercially viable and have the right wages in too.”

Yadav spoke of his learning through decades of experience. “The basic requirement is that the person is academically brilliant, his or her mastery of the subject is paramount; and then they are bound to become good maritime teachers. Passion comes next; passion alone may be of no value.

“The training must be outcome-based, rather than syllabi-centric, which also involves teacher engagement, driven by passion.”

The webinar concluded with a Vote of Gratitude from the MTG Secretary-General, Capt. Kamal Chadha.

Marex Media