1. The Maritime Studies Qualifications Suite
Smoothing the Way Seminar 27 September 2010
The Maritime Studies Qualifications Suite
Presentation by:
Philip Wells, Secretary.
Maritime Skills Alliance
11/05/2018
MSA - working together for UK Maritime Skills development

2. MSA - working together for UK Maritime Skills development
The Maritime Sector
Turnover >£11 billion
GVA >£4.5 billion
6,500 enterprises (10% self employed)
170,776 employed (47% seafarers)
Handles 95% of UK Trade by weight
51 million passenger journeys p.a.
Source: Maritime Sector Skill Needs Assessment 2009
11/05/2018
MSA - working together for UK Maritime Skills development

3. Maritime Skills Alliance
Established in January 2004
To provide a ‘focal point’ for skills issues unique to the maritime sector and not within any SSC ‘footprint’
Founder Members:
Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB)
Ports Skills and Safety (PSS)
Seafish Industry Authority (SFIA)
now joined by…..
11/05/2018
MSA - working together for UK Maritime Skills development

4. MSA additional members
British Marine Fed./Royal Yachting Assoc.(BMF/RYA)
joined 2006
Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) joined 2007
Royal Navy (RN) joined 2008
British Tugowners Assoc. (BTA) joined 2009
International Assoc. of Maritime Institutions (IAMI)
joined
National Workboat Assoc.(NWA) joined 2010
Company of Watermen & Lightermen (CWL)/ Passenger
Boat Assoc. (PBA). Joined 2010
11/05/2018
MSA - working together for UK Maritime Skills development

5. DEVELOPING NEW QUALIFICATIONS The Underpinning process
Maritime Sector Skills Needs Analysis
Maritime Sector Qualifications Strategy
4 Nations Consultation
Qualifications Strategy Action Plan
National Occupational Standards in place
Maritime Qualifications Board
11/05/2018
MSA - working together for UK Maritime Skills development

6. MSA - working together for UK Maritime Skills development
What needed to be done
Current Position
Limited use of recognised VQs (for funding purposes)
Aging workforce
Difficulty in attracting young new entrants
Limited career progression between parts of the Sector
Remedies
Develop quals linked to regulatory framework
Use Credit accumulation and transfer to aid progression
Develop Apprenticeship frameworks
Develop quals for use in schools
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MSA - working together for UK Maritime Skills development

7. MSA - working together for UK Maritime Skills development
Credit and Qualifications Framework (QCF) For England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Unit based - approved units entered on central data bank
Rules of Combination create quals that meet identified needs
Achievement recognised by credits
1 credit = 10 notional learning hours
2 credits = An Award
13 to 36 credits = Certificate
37 + credits = Diploma
9 levels ( 1 to 5 equate to NVQ levels)
Individual electronic Learner Record of Achievement (LAR)
To replace the NQF by Sept. 2010
11/05/2018
MSA - working together for UK Maritime Skills development

8. Maritime Studies Quals (MSQ) – Where we are now
Level 2 Maritime Studies Awards ( Introductory/ STCW Safety)
Level 2 Maritime Studies Certificates :pathways for
- Basic vessel engineering
- Navigation and watchkeeping
- Sea Fishing
- Seamanship
Level 3 Maritime Studies Diplomas; pathways for
- Officer of the Watch (Near coastal) + Tugs towage unit
- Officer of the Watch (unlimited)
- Engine room Watchkeeper
- Shipping and Maritime Operations ( equivalent to NC in England for
funding purposes)
Level 4 Maritime Studies Diploma: pathways
- Master (Near Coastal)
- Tugmaster (Near coastal)
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MSA - working together for UK Maritime Skills development

9. Attracting new entrants Where we are now
Entry level and Level One Maritime Studies quals being developed for use in schools
Maritime Apprenticeship Level Two Framework developed with pathways for:
- Boatmasters
- Sea fishing
- Tugs
Further pathways to be added for:
- Workboats
- MN Ratings
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MSA - working together for UK Maritime Skills development

10. MSA - working together for UK Maritime Skills development
MSQ and the MCA
MCA represented on all working groups developing MSQ
Providers must be approved by MCA
Required sea time must still be served
TRB will provide evidence of this
Assessment methods agreed with MCA
Many MCA ‘short courses’ now incorporated into units within MSQ suite
11/05/2018
MSA - working together for UK Maritime Skills development

11. The Position in Scotland
SVQs are Scot. Gov’s preferred vocational qual.
All current Maritime SVQs expire on
Sea Fishing Modern Apprenticeship expires on
NC and HNC route in place for MN Officer Trainees
Fishing HNC being piloted
Skills for Work – Maritime Studies in place for
MSA response:
Seeking SQA agreement to replace SVQs with CBQs based on the MSQ
Ascertaining demand for Maritime Apprenticeships in Scotland
11/05/2018
MSA - working together for UK Maritime Skills development