Raising Awareness & Fostering Opportunities to Nurture Maritime Talent
The maritime industry remains beyond doubt a vital pillar of global trade and commerce. But there is a widespread lack of awareness about the maritime sector within the nation, especially in the interior tier-2 and tier-3 cities, which poses a serious hindrance to getting suitable talent to consider the sector for a career.
This paper therefore aims to identify some of the key challenges posed by the lack of awareness, as well as to study proposed solutions.
Perception vs. Reality
More often than not, the only press coverage the industry gets is negative. The media predominantly portrays maritime incidents such as maritime accidents, piracy, and pollution incidents, which paint the industry and the potential employment opportunities negatively, which in turn dissuades youth from considering careers within the sector.
The reality however, as the industry leaders will tell, is far from it. The maritime industry is integral to global trade and commerce, and offers a vast array of career opportunities beyond seafaring.
Employment Opportunities
The maritime industry, considering all its verticals, collectively provides the highest number of jobs globally. These jobs span various sectors, including but not limited to, maritime commerce, port operations, coastal and inland shipping, intermodal logistics, oceanography, etc. to name a few.
The sector plays a pivotal role in the global supply chain, ensuring the smooth flow of goods.
To effectively dispel any false perceptions that may stem from ignorance we need to approach this challenge in a structured manner.
Integrating Maritime Education in High School Curriculum
47% of the Indian population is below the age of 25, of which 24% is below 15. Perhaps the easiest way to create awareness about the sector then would be by introducing the maritime sector’s significance in high-school curricula.
- Highlight how the maritime industry is integral to our daily lives
- Emphasize the role of maritime transportation in the delivery of goods.
- Showcase the importance of ports in trade and commerce.
- Explain coastal and inland shipping’s contribution to regional development.
- Introduce intermodal and multimodal opportunities within the sector.
The list can be endless.
AWARENESS SPARKS’ INTEREST… By educating students at the school level about the maritime sector’s importance, we generate curiosity and interest. Encouraging students to explore career opportunities in maritime commerce, logistics, and related fields will create awareness of the opportunities and dispel the negative perceptions that stigmatise the possibilities.
Integrating maritime education into high school curricula is the first step toward rectifying this issue. Social media is a powerful tool, and influencers should be engaged to further generate interest in it.
Expanding Maritime and Environmental Studies
Once awareness is created, the seed is sown. As the next stage, introduce maritime and environmental studies as an elective in higher secondary syllabi.
This would invariably encourage students to delve deeper into maritime-related subjects. With growing unemployment in other industrial sectors, students can make informed choices to consider this highly lucrative seafaring profession, along with a career path beyond sailing.
By fostering awareness and interest in maritime careers, and a coherent road map beyond, we can ensure a steady supply of talented individuals to sustain the industry’s growth and development. India has this great opportunity to develop a skilled workforce equipped to address the sector’s evolving challenges.
Proper education, applying a structured approach, including a high-level understanding of the environmental concerns, will fuel the growth potential for serving the industry globally.
With the above foundation, career counselling sessions at school completion stage will garner far better traction with more students making informed choices aligned with their interests.
Key Takeaways:
- Awareness: Promote the importance of maritime trade, ports, logistics, and environmental sustainability.
- Employment: Highlight diverse career opportunities beyond traditional seafaring roles.
- Education: Integrate maritime and environmental studies into school curricula.
- Skill Development: Create a skilled workforce through education-industry partnerships and vocational programs.
- National Policy Alignment: Align efforts with India’s maritime policies and global environmental standards.
By taking these steps, India will have a distinct advantage to position itself as a leader in maritime manpower, providing a workforce with valuable skills that contribute to the growth and sustainability of the sector.
- Marex Media