Q INSTITUTE NEWS
INSTITUTE NEWS
The latest news & events from the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST)
Distance learning signals commitment to staff and quality
34
Upskilling employees without diverting them away from the day-to-day tasks is a challenge for any company. The difficulties are compounded in the maritime sector, owing to itinerant working patterns. Staff often work in remote locations or are serving on board a vessel for extended periods of time. A one-day course is easy
enough to organise, but such training is unlikely to equip staff with the necessary skills or sufficiently deep understanding of a subject that is needed to give an organisation any real advantage. While longer courses can
deliver this depth of learning, they are hard to accommodate. In fact, the loss of productivity resulting from the extended absence of a key staff member may be untenable for SMEs operating with a small workforce. Yet, again and again we are
told about the importance of nurturing and developing personnel. It is more frustrating still when employees are ambitious to grow or show potential for their career development. One solution is to use distance
learning, which allows staff to take their development into their own hands. They can choose a course
that matches their career development aspirations and in which they are prepared to invest their time and energy to complete. In fact, it makes the prospect
of undertaking a course less daunting, because they can continue working and earning while pursuing their studies at their own pace. Because employees are not
leaving their post, the impact on business operations is minimal, although many organisations like to incentivise self-development by providing an allowance of study hours on company time. Over recent years, many
distance learning providers have ramped up their levels of service, often utilising the latest technolo- gies in order to provide students with the assistance they need, deserve and, increasingly, have come to expect. MLA College offers compre-
hensive support to students on its specialised maritime courses through personal online tutoring throughout the duration of the degree programme. An often-overlooked benefit of
distance learning is that employ- ees doing a master’s project can (and evidence suggests, are predisposed to) focus on a theme that is relevant to their day job.
Particularly for organisations
operating in highly specialised technical fields, which is com- monly the case in the maritime sector, this can lead to fruitful cross-fertilisation and open up new opportunities. Those with their eyes on
climbing the management ladder may consider embarking on an MBA course to help advance their careers. However these are often sorely lacking in context, reducing their value to the student and employer alike. Opting for a course with maritime-specific content would clearly enhance the outcomes for all involved. MLA College’s BSc/MSc in Sustainable Maritime Operations were designed from the ground up to feature sound business and management content, as well as to incorporate modules more
relevant to the sector, such as maritime legislation. By investing in higher
education opportunities, organisations demonstrate to their employees that they are valued. This in itself can boost morale. Moreover, it signals to clients – both current and potential – a lasting commitment to not only maintain standards and quality but also to elevate them. MLA College offers a selection
of courses for competency development, covering key subjects such as hydrography, meteorology, navigation, oceanography and sustainable maritime operations. These are offered at levels ranging from introductory access courses through to full undergraduate and postgraduate study. To learn more, visit:
www.mla-uk.com
MLA College distance learning programmes
Postgraduate Courses s0'#ERT\0'$IP\-3C3USTAINABLE -ARITIME/PERATIONS
s-3C!DVANCED(YDROGRAPHYFOR 0ROFESSIONALS
s-3C!DVANCED-ETEOROLOGYFOR 0ROFESSIONALS
s-3C!DVANCED.AVIGATIONFOR 0ROFESSIONALS
s-3C!DVANCED/CEANOGRAPHYFOR 0ROFESSIONALS
Undergraduate Courses s"3C\"3C (ONS 3USTAINABLE
-ARITIME/PERATIONS
s$IP(%(YDROGRAPHYFOR 0ROFESSIONALS
Access Courses s3USTAINABLE-ARITIME/PERATIONS
!CCESS#OURSE
s)NTRODUCTORY-ODULEFOR (YDROGRAPHY#OURSES
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40