Problem Based Learning: a tool to improve maritime safety learning in the Merchant Maritime University degrees

Abstract

Since 2010, the University of Cádiz offers three new degree programs related to merchant marine officers studies. These three degrees cover the training and certification of deck officers, marine engineers and radio- electronic officers, clustered under the EINAMAR (Escuela de Ingeniería Marina,Naútica y Radioelectrónica) umbrella. These degrees are designed to provide the students not only with the proper academic certificate but also with a fully worldwide recognized professional certificate. This is the reason why the studies not only have to fully fulfill the academic quality requirements laid down by ANECA (Agencia Nacional de Evaluación de la Calidad y Acreditación) or DEVA (Dirección de Evaluación y Acreditación – Agencia Andaluza del Conocimiento-) but also with the standard qualifications set up by the International Convention on Standard of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW 95) for seafarers as amended in 2010 (Manila Amendments). According to this, as far as the students finish successfully their studies, and after an onboard training period, they will be able to obtain both, the academic and the professional certificates. “Maritime Safety” is a one of the core subjects for these three programs and it has been designed as a transversal subject in such a way that all the students have the same contents and schedule. This subject aims to provide the students with the theoretical and practical training to cope with any situation involving fire prevention and firefighting as well as incident and accident prevention and resolution on board. It also introduces student into the world of contingency planning and evacuation procedures on board, the knowledge of how to use survival crafts and equipment to increase probabilities of survival when abandoning the ship, and the most appropriate techniques and procedures when abandoning the ship and boarding the survival crafts. The main aim of the practical part of the subject is to improve the on board safety and risk awareness and to let the students get used to the most appropriate techniques and procedures as well as the use and maintenance of the protective equipment available on board. To achieve this goal, problem based learning techniques related to real situations on board have been applied. One of the specific practical workshop that have been implemented during the course, deals with the student training level in the use of SCBA (Self-contained reathing apparatus) and other protective equipment as well as orientation and search and rescue techniques within hostile environments with sensorial losses. As these situations can arise on board students must be familiar with them in order to properly face them. The aim of this specific workshop is not only to improve the students’ safety and risk awareness but also to encourage, strengthen and increase other professional and social skills.