Interpretations of Maritime Experts on the Sustainability of Maritime Education: Reducing the Lacuna of Amalgamation Between Maritime Education and Industries

Abstract

The assessment of graduate employability, sustainability management, and development in maritime research and education requires an integrated approach to anticipate the sustainability of the subjects offered and the impact on the socio-economic progress. Primarily, this study examines the main topics and themes in the syllabi of maritime studies, disciplines, and related subjects, which may require revision to raise the graduates’ quality effectively and recommendations to enhance the research quality in the maritime domain. A qualitative approach has been employed through semi-structured interview sessions to obtain information from 14 participants from various maritime industries to gather their insight and opinion on syllabus enhancement for future graduates and the quality of maritime education. A bibliometric analysis was then conducted on data retrieved from the Scopus database to analyse the research network, current research area, and research collaboration among maritime researchers. These fundamental elements should be developed with continuous improvement as maritime players must stay current and relevant in their profession. The analysis focusses on maritime studies that must be investigated from the ground up to uplift the actual requirements that may be incorporated into the maritime educational syllabus. Through this survey, marine practitioners and educators were able to assess the consistency and efficiency of the syllabus for educational advancement. To ensure the quality standard in the education system, graduates, educators, and researchers should update their education standards regularly to sustain associated scientific investigations, advanced technology, and practical applications.