Advanced learning methods in maritime education and training: A bibliometric analysis on the digitalization of education and modern trends

Abstract

AbstractThe minimum requirements in maritime education and training (MET) are set by the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). First established in 1978, the STCW convention standardized educational procedures for seafarers. Since then, it has become the most influential regulatory document for maritime education. The STCW code had major revisions in 1995 and 2010. These amendments were in response to the recognized need to bring the Convention up to date. However, it has been over a decade since the latest amendments came into force, and over the past decade, new educational technologies and digital educational methods have developed significantly. Not only that, but technologies used onboard ships have also advanced considerably. Today, digitalization and the fourth industrial revolution are rapidly reshaping the maritime industry, as well as maritime education. These issues coupled with the disruption caused by the Covid pandemic increased the need for more advanced training tools and methods in MET. Concerns are rising regarding the need for more comprehensive rules that will better reflect today's educational needs and progress in the literature. This paper takes a first step toward addressing these issues by improving the understanding of the currently used advanced teaching methods in MET. This bibliometric review provides developments in the field from the perspective of educators and researchers. As a result, we discovered several narratives and literature gaps in MET. This article reviews the currently investigated subjects and topics, used educational tools and equipment, types of research, and main influencers in MET research. The field is still newly developing, but at a rapid pace. Newly developed tools and methods are increasing, but advances are also constrained because they are made to fit the decade‐old regulations.