E-learning for innovative maritime education

Written by Gesine Stück  |  Monday, 23 August 2010  | 

On August 18, 2010 state secretary Heinz Maurus from the regional government of Schleswig-Holstein visited our NMU partner University of Applied Sciences Luebeck as on his summer tour. During his journey he visits and examines some of the Interreg projects taking place in Schleswig-Holstein.

Heinz Maurus was very pleased with the outcomes and working of the NMU project. He said: “The transnational network ensures a high level of education with specific regard to the needs of maritime economies.”

As markets become increasingly global, tariff barriers are fast disappearing and more information-based economies emerge, the maritime industry and related sectors need to emphasize innovation, competency and collaboration. Developing and managing knowledge as a strategic asset is the key to success in securing a sustainable source of competitive advantage in any emergent knowledge-based economy. To maintain competitiveness, companies need to capitalize on their intellectual assets, rather than simply their physical assets and infrastructure. However, in common with other regions of the world, the maritime sector in the North Sea Region is facing a dearth of well-trained maritime business managers.

There is significant potential demand, therefore, for the offering of education and qualifications which enhance the innovation capacity within the sector; in the future, maritime business managers will need to possess multidisciplinary knowledge and skills to cope with growing maritime traffic, port development, and rising environmental challenges, all within an intermodal environment.

NMU developed e-learning modules in transnational cooperation enable the NMU partners to use the modules and module elements independent from time and space. Further, students have started to take part in exchange programmes without extending their studies attending NMU partner universities.

NMU member Rolf Granow, professor at the University of Applied Sciences Luebeck, provided insight in the NMU network structure to the state secretary Mr Maurus. Philippa Lenz, one of the NMU leading e-learning experts, presented examples from the e-learning modules realised for market entrance within the project.

Heinz Maurus was also given a tour of the production facilities at the University e.g. cutting places or recording studio.

At the end of his visit, the state secretary was able to directly speak with students about their learning experiences in the NMU network. He was also convinced that the developed e-learning modules contribute to the high innovation of the project for innovative maritime education. 

Click here for the article on the website of the government of Schleswig-Holstein (German version).