Maritime Education & Training in India: Challenges Ahead

[India continues to be a major source for supply of seafarers to global shipping industry. Technological and regulatory changes that the shipping industry has been experiencing over the last couple of decades have impacted significantly on Maritime Education and Training (MET). During the same period, MET in India was opened up to private sector participation. Unprecedentedly large number of institutes seeking to maximise profits and at the same time, cater exclusively to a cyclical industry, resulted in dynamic imbalance between the supply and the demand. This is akin to the ‘Bull Whip Effect’ that models the unstable inventory levels in Supply Chain Management. This paper argues it is not possible to regulate the supply side externally and calls for self-regulation. Industry participation, information sharing and elimination of middlemen will improve the response of supply side of human resources at the pre-sea level.  Following a review of maritime education in India, the paper suggests that higher education needs to focus solely on post-graduate level and industry-led research. This approach, together with appropriate affiliations within and outside the country will help India’s nascent maritime educational institutions to present seafarers as well as non-seafarers with opportunities for career growth and expedite global recognition].

[India continues to be a major source for supply of seafarers to global shipping industry. Technological and regulatory changes that the shipping industry has been experiencing over the last couple of decades have impacted significantly on Maritime Education and Training (MET). During the same period, MET in India was opened up to private sector participation. Unprecedentedly large number of institutes seeking to maximise profits and at the same time, cater exclusively to a cyclical industry, resulted in dynamic imbalance between the supply and the demand. This is akin to the ‘Bull Whip Effect’ that models the unstable inventory levels in Supply Chain Management. This paper argues it is not possible to regulate the supply side externally and calls for self-regulation. Industry participation, information sharing and elimination of middlemen will improve the response of supply side of human resources at the pre-sea level.  Following a review of maritime education in India, the paper suggests that higher education needs to focus solely on post-graduate level and industry-led research. This approach, together with appropriate affiliations within and outside the country will help India’s nascent maritime educational institutions to present seafarers as well as non-seafarers with opportunities for career growth and expedite global recognition].