Research On The Quality Assurance System Of Chinese Maritime Education And Training

With the development of world economy and more emphases laid on the environment by people, "Cleaner Ocean, Safer Navigation"(IMO) must not only be the slogan of shipping industry but also of the Maritime Education and Training (MET) Institutions. It cannot be denied that safety shipping relies upon the trained and qualified people who actually make this industry function and who risk their lives and limbs daily to transport cargo and passengers around the globe.Over the last 40 years or so, the shipping industry has focused on improving ship structure and the reliability of ship systems in order to reduce casualties and increase efficiency and productivity. Today's ship systems are technologically advanced and highly reliable. Yet, the maritime casualty rate is still high. It is because ship structure and system reliability are a relatively small part of the safety equation. The maritime system is a people system, and human errors figure prominently in casualty situations. Everyone interested in Quality Shipping accepts that the human element is fundamental to maritime safety with 80% or so of all accidents and incidents attributable in some way to human factors. The quality of seafaring personnel is critical to the safe and efficient operation of ships. Promoting education and training for seafarers means they are better educated and trained with the ability to have greater functional adaptability.STCW 95 was the necessary and important development that seeks to raise the level of competence of seafarers and those responsible for seafarer training and certificates of competency. STCW 95 is the international community's approach to improving the quality and professionalism of seafarers, employers, trainers and marine administrators and, as such, has great potential to improve the safe and efficient operation of ships. Maritime safety is based upon a good quality of seafarers, and consequently a good quality of the maritime education and training, as well as a good system of quality assurance in the field of teaching and learning activities. According to the STCW95 Convention, maritime institutions must establish a quality control system which is approvedby the national government so that all designated objectives for MET can be achieved.The Quality Standard System, as required by the Regulation I/8 of the STCW95, places mandatory requirement on the MET institutions who have the significant position that their quality are very much concern of the maritime community. Most MET institutions have established their QSS and initiated process of achieving compliance with the regulations by adopting some of the models which were available for quality management system. Nevertheless such system has inevitably some problem and difficulties not only in the implementation but also the maintenance of the system. Quality of the seafarers is still the main safety issue of shipping industry and the major deficiency in the STCW95 implementation process. The author felt it is necessary and relevant to review and reinforce the application of QSS in Chinese MET institutions.