Maritime Studies Maritime Studies November 2010 ATHENS UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS ATHENS UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS

Sources of information regarding choice of studies in tertiary education Did your school have a careers guidance counselor? 2 More than half of the pupils answered that there was no careers guidance counselor at their school.

Do you believe that if a careers guidance counselor were available or relevant presentations or university prospectuses will help you decide on selecting your desired future profession? 3 Pupils response to the question are practically split down the middle regarding the benefit of having a careers counselor. Sources of information regarding choice of studies in tertiary education

Questions relevant to maritime studies Do you know that maritime salaries are relatively higher compared to the salaries of other professionals with the same length of work experience? 4 Nearly 6 out of 10 pupils answered that they are aware of the fact that maritime salaries are normally higher than those of other professions

If authoritative and complete information was available to you regarding a profession – such as professions in maritime studies – regarding a profession with no unemployment, with relatively higher compensation as compared to other professions, and with better career prospects, would you be willing to reconsider your views regarding your choice of school for university education? 5 More than half the pupils asked declared that they are not willing to reconsider their choice for the school for their university education. Questions relevant to maritime studies

In case you have opted to pursue a pure maritime education instead of another educational field, do you believe that your career prospects immediately after completing your studies would be … 6 Analysis of high school students’ final grades Questions relevant to maritime studies Pupils achieving top school grades believe to a 41% level that their career prospects will be better if they were to follow maritime studies (%)

Before making your final decision on the university course you want to follow, did you know that maritime studies belong to the higher education level status? 7 More than half the pupils asked did not know that maritime studies belong to the higher education level status Questions relative to maritime studies

Do you feel that you could fulfill the requirements and commitments of maritime education and subsequent career responsibilities? 8 41,4% of the pupils responded that they feel they could fulfill those requirements and responsibilities. Questions relative to maritime studies

Do you know that the following statement is true? Even if somebody fails the university entrance examinations it is still possible to be later admitted to schools offering maritime studies. 9 More than 6 out of 10 pupils were not sure that the statement above is true. Questions relative to maritime studies

Do you know that the Merchant Marine Diploma A class is equivalent to diplomas awarded by higher educational institutions and gives you the possibility to advance your studies to a post graduate level in a related subject? 10 Nearly 8 out of 10 pupils did not know this. Questions relative to maritime studies

Given that the law still allows you to follow maritime studies even if you fail the university entrance examinations, have you ever thought of this option even as a second choice? 11 Seven out of ten pupils have never thought of this alternative choice. Questions relative to maritime studies

Do you know that recent technological advances have totally changed the working conditions of maritime professionals? 12 Half of the pupils answered that they are aware of the positive effects that technological advances have in the maritime profession. Questions relative to maritime studies

What is your view of the Greek Merchant Navy? 13 More than half of the pupils have positive and very positive views of the Greek Merchant Navy. Questions relative to maritime studies

Do you know that the Greek Merchant Navy is the largest in the European Union and in the World? 14 More than half the students responded that they did not know this fact. Questions relative to maritime studies

What is your overall view of the Greek Merchant maritime industry? 15 More than half of the pupils declare that they have a positive and a very positive view on this issue. Questions relative to maritime studies

The problem of youth unemployment – especially, graduate youth unemployment – is directly linked to education and the labour market. In certain groups of graduates, such as maritime graduates, unemployment is extremely low; yet, our research indicated limited demand for maritime education, despite the low unemployment rates, especially among those who graduate with distinction (“honours”). The findings of our research revealed the following points: improper career counselling and orientation among pupils. insufficient information about an issue that could potentially motivate pupils to opt for maritime education, namely that the Greek maritime sector is a fundamental pillar of the Greek economy. pupils are not aware of labour market conditions, nor of the higher education institutions that lead to professions with low unemployment rates. pupils do not have a full and comprehensive picture of maritime-related professions. pupils are not aware of the fact that maritime education is part of higher education. pupils are not aware that as maritime graduates, they may subsequently pursue postgraduate studies. recruitment of maritime students has to be based on a strategic plan. Our research findings per region have indicated that in certain areas with high unemployment, there is an interest among pupils to pursue maritime careers, yet they do not know enough about maritime education. pupils’ answers to our questionnaires vary greatly between regions. Key Results 17

maritime education standards need to be raised, in the frame of a proper knowledge-based society. the competent authorities, including the competent Ministry, need to develop a Strategy that would set out quality standards in maritime education. despite state efforts to invest in skills and knowledge for its citizens, Greek human resources lag in productivity. However, developing a pool of maritime graduates would prove highly productive, concurrently boosting the country’s finances. there is a considerable gap in pupils’ view of the relation between maritime education and the labour market. This has to be taken seriously into account by the competent authorities and Ministries involved in career counselling and orientation. pupils choose their post high-school education paths under severe shortage of information on potential alternatives and undergraduate- school options, hence based on non-scientific, unofficial reports on the specifics of professions and overall working conditions. Pursuant to our findings, the most important factors in pupils’ choice of undergraduate studies are: personal attitude social role models/standards perceived control prior behaviour. Key Results 18

Shortage in recruitment of maritime students is a fact. Most pupils are unaware of basic information on entry requirements to undergraduate maritime schools and are exposed to limited input from career counsels, since even the latter are misinformed as to the prospects of maritime-related professions. In other words, 12th grade (final-year) pupils do not have access to a mechanism that could provide them with a pool of information related to career alternatives and professional options – not merely in the field of maritime. Thus, if one aims to improve pupils’ choices and perspective, one has to facilitate the flow and quality of information supplied to Greek pupils. Collective and regional data analysis underpins the need for a comprehensive Strategy that has to be deployed by the State and all other authorities involved in the development of maritime education policy. This Strategy presupposes a range of actions that would remedy any faults in the system (not just those highlighted herein) so that Greek pupils are offered maritime education of upgraded standards. Greece is in need of a maritime education system that would enhance the aims and targets set forth by all factors involved in the Greek maritime industry. This education system should be dynamic, extroverted and bolstering the skills and knowledge needed to serve the country’s status as a global nautical force. Therefore, it is crucial for the Strategy to describe precisely each and every action that ought to be taken in the next 2-3 years, hence functioning as a point of reference that would enable Greek maritime to improve its position in the eyes of Greek pupils, would recruit potential maritime students, and would identify the elements that have to be updated or inoculated in relevant education courses so that the Greek maritime sector enjoys sustainable growth. If we fail to upgrade the standards of maritime education, Greece will be the only country with the oxymoron of a thriving maritime sector and a crippled maritime education system that does no service to the fundamentals of the Greek economy and dishonours the longstanding tradition of Greece as a nautical state. Key Results 19