There is a global need for skilled workers across multiple sectors within the marine industry. To prepare this workforce, we must collectively take action to establish attractive, innovative, agile and equitable educational opportunities. These opportunities should capitalize on skill sets for a range of workers and encourage engagement pathways for life-long learning through obtaining stackable microcredentials and professional certificates to promote personal growth, keep pace with technological changes, and capitalize upon opportunities within the sector.
To address this need, the Marine Technology Society (MTS) is producing stackable microcredentials to create accessible and flexible pathways to learning and vocational training. The microcredentials address core competencies required for employment in the blue economy. These flexible learning pathways will be of value to a spectrum of learners including those: entering the workforce; looking to applying skill sets acquired during military service; seeking acknowledgement of skills acquired “on the job”; and in need of employment retraining. The cross training/upskilling provided through the microcredentials framework is intended to form workers capable of generating innovation and new applications and/or refinements of existing technology, and development of new technologies.
