Employee Development Practices in a Maritime School: Faculty Perspectives and Improvement Areas

In this qualitative study, we investigated how maritime schools utilize employee development strategies as viewed by faculty members, which identified potential areas for development. We collected semi-structured interview data from a random sample of the teaching staff of a single maritime school and used this data to identify experiences related to current training options, opportunities for career advancement and institutional support. Through thematic analysis of the interviews, we found that there was a strong focus on technical education and maritime regulation but also identified a need for more formalized mentoring, professional development courses, and clearly defined routes for career advancement. Faculty were unanimous in their desire for better defined and more effective plans for continued professional growth and greater administrative support. This research provides a roadmap for implementing faculty development programs that are successful in raising the quality of teaching in maritime schools and will be necessary to continue to provide students with the education they require to enter into an ever-changing maritime workforce.