On Monday 9 February, The Dutch Maritime Network and Dutch maritime education institutions signed a cooperation agreement at the Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz (MIWB) to strengthen and future-proof maritime education. With the signing, the project “Strengthening Maritime Education” was officially launched as part of the Maritime Master Plan.
Marc Otto, Chair of the Executive Board of NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences and Chair of the national partnership for maritime vocational education, signed on behalf of the maritime education sector. Astrid Kee, Programme Director of the Maritime Master Plan, signed the agreement on behalf of The Dutch Maritime Network (Nederland Maritiem Land).
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Accelerating the maritime energy transition
The Maritime Master Plan is an initiative funded by the National Growth Fund and aims to accelerate the maritime energy transition. By developing, building and deploying reliable, climate-neutral vessels within a cyclical innovation chain, the plan contributes to a sustainable maritime sector, a strong Dutch economy and the safeguarding of national security interests.
A key component of the Maritime Master Plan is the development of demonstration vessels to stimulate the transition to sustainable shipping in practice. These are supported by two overarching programme lines: “Digital Collaboration” and “Human Capital”.
The Dutch Maritime Network is responsible for coordinating the entire programme. Within the Human Capital programme line, the focus is on training, upskilling and knowledge development related to climate-neutral vessels and digital skills.
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Future-oriented education
In the Strengthening Maritime Education project, maritime education institutions are working closely together to develop new, future-oriented programmes. Participants in the partnership include Noorderpoort, ROC Nova College, Dunamare Education Group, Firda, STC Group, Vonk, Scalda, Berechja College, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, HZ University of Applied Sciences and NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences.
The project covers programmes in the fields of seagoing shipping, inland navigation and maritime engineering, from pre-vocational secondary education (VMBO) through to higher professional education (HBO). The MIWB, part of NHL Stenden, will coordinate the project over the next eight years.
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Addressing current challenges
A key focus of the project is practice-based (research) projects, in which students work with companies, professors and lecturers on current issues related to the energy transition. In addition, new educational modules are being developed that will be structurally embedded in maritime programmes and will also be suitable for the further training of professionals already active in the sector.
By further strengthening cooperation between education and industry, maritime education can better respond to rapidly changing training needs resulting from sustainability and digitalisation. In this way, the partners are jointly building a future-proof maritime sector.
Picture: Marc Otto, Chair of the Executive Board of NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences and Chair of the national partnership for maritime vocational education, and Astrid Kee, Programme Director of the Maritime Master Plan, signing the agreement (photo NHL Stenden/Maritime Master Plan).
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