From ‘push’ to ‘pull’ in maritime career development

Hanze’s involvement in MyCaDO is part of a broader commitment to regional and international engagement.

The project is part of Interreg VI and brings organisations from the Netherlands and Germany together around a shared challenge in the maritime sector. For Hanze, this cross-border collaboration fits with its ambition to strengthen regional development by connecting knowledge, education, research and international cooperation. The project brought together expertise from the International Business research group and the Region-to-Region for Regional Resilience (R2R4RR) research line. R2R4RR focuses on strengthening regional resilience through regional and interregional collaboration, internationalisation and innovation. The International Business research group connects education, research and business and focuses, among other things, on international collaboration in the region, with a particular emphasis on the Netherlands-Germany connection.

This regional and international perspective was also important throughout the project. MyCaDO brought together organisations and professionals with different backgrounds and provided an opportunity to connect knowledge from the region with international developments in the maritime sector. During the event, it was emphasised that this combination is essential for developing solutions that are relevant to professional practice while also being fit for the future.

The maritime sector is facing a shortage of qualified professionals, changing regulations and new technological developments. At the same time, more and more is expected of employees. Alongside technical knowledge, skills such as leadership, communication, collaboration and intercultural competence are becoming increasingly important.

From push to pull

One of the key messages during the event was the shift from ‘push’ to ‘pull’. In practice, employees are often sent on training courses because certain knowledge or certificates are required. But for professionals working long hours and with limited time for additional training, this approach does not always work. MyCaDO therefore explores how employees can take greater ownership of their own development. A digital learning environment can provide insight into where someone is in their career, which skills they need for the next step and which learning activities could support them.

There is no single learning pathway that works for everyone. Different roles, company and regulatory requirements, personal ambitions and learning styles all play a part.

From cadet to captain

The event also highlighted that career development goes far beyond obtaining technical certificates. Maritime professionals continue to develop throughout their careers. A cadet can progress to become an officer and potentially a captain later in their career. As responsibilities increase, skills such as leadership, management and intercultural collaboration become increasingly important. After all, a captain works with an international crew and needs to bring together different perspectives and cultures. According to Roman Heil of Atria Learning & Development, this is an area where there is still significant room for development. Technical competences are well established within the sector, but there is relatively little room for leadership and management development throughout a career. Paying more attention to these areas could make a real difference.

Bringing education and practice together

An important outcome of MyCaDO is the collaboration between different organisations and professionals within the maritime sector. Companies, education professionals and learning and development experts each brought their own perspectives to the project. Hanze also contributed through its expertise in education, research and areas including management, HR and people skills. At the same time, the collaboration provided an opportunity to gain a better understanding of how professionals at sea learn and work. Seafarers, for example, do not always have the same access to the internet and education as students on shore. The collaboration therefore resulted not only in a digital platform, but also in new insights into how different forms of learning can be better connected.

Technology as a means, not an end

During the closing event, participants could explore and experience various MyCaDO results at an interactive marketplace. These included the digital learning platform, simulations, gamification and a range of online learning modules. The project partners emphasise that digitalisation is not an end in itself. Technology should primarily help make learning more accessible, more personal and better suited to professional practice. After three years of collaboration, the MyCaDO project has now come to an end, but the development continues. The knowledge gained and applications developed through the project provide a basis for further developing career learning in the maritime sector and beyond.