On the Maritime Faculty Kotor Seminar „How to First Boarding” Held
Captain of long voyage Janko Milutin shared more information with students of the Faculty of Maritime Studies at the University of Montenegro regarding the first steps in the development of maritime career, through the Zoom application on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 within the seminar "How to get on the first boarding".
Captain Milutin, on behalf of the Association of Seafarers' Employment Agencies, but also based on his many years of rich experience, gave a comprehensive presentation describing the current situation on the maritime market, the content of current regulations and requirements for future and active seafarers, as well as opportunities and rights to which they are exposed in dealing with this profession.
The complete procedure from the moment the cadet or seafarer addresses the boarding agency to the landing and the realization of the voyage is presented. Special emphasis in the presentation of Captain Milutin referred to the need for continuous training of seafarers, as well as the acquisition of good recommendations, either through the classic form of education, training or other specific engagements.
"Seminar is of crucial importance for our students who have recently completed basic training at the Faculty of Maritime Studies in Kotor, and then passed the appropriate exams at the Port Authority of Kotor and acquired a maritime book (register)," Tatijana Dlabac, PhD, said, who is the training manager at the Training Center of the Faculty of Maritime Studies in Kotor.
Students who will soon start their careers at one of the shipping companies have been drawn to possible obstacles they may encounter. Captain Milutin gave the seminar participants numerous specific tips from the application procedure itself, in terms of finding information on the websites of companies and agencies, through filling out applications, preparing and submitting the necessary documents, to the process of interviewing, testing and selecting shortlisted candidates as well as procedures that await them after receiving a positive opinion regarding the specific engagement.
The teaching staff of the Faculty presented a new online course Prospectus within the Moodle platform, which is intended primarily for third-year students who are seriously preparing for a future call. Milena Dževerdanović Pejović, PhD, spoke about the guidelines regarding additional training of the English language of the maritime profession, as well as the intention to provide students with as specific information as possible regarding the above through the mentioned website (Prospectus).
Assistant Professor Senka Šekularac Ivošević pointed out significant connection between the Association of Seafarers' Employment Agencies as a link with a large number of shipping companies and our Faculty within future projects and scientific research in the field of human resources management in maritime and related fields.
During the presentation, a number of questions were opened, each of which deserves special attention and possibly a new lecture. Possible online trainings were mentioned, some shortcomings of the system itself in terms of insufficiently precise and clear legal regulations that would protect the entire system and application of procedures, and thus the specific interests of state and certified institutions dealing with education and training of seafarers, including the Faculty of Maritime Studies Kotor.
After a detailed and interactive presentation, participants asked specific questions about the requirements and expectations placed before them. The students reacted positively to the organization of such a seminar and expressed special gratitude to Captain Milutin for all the information and advice they received, which is joined by the teaching staff of the Faculty of Maritime Studies in Kotor.
The seminar was also attended by Maja Škurić, MA, on behalf of the Center for International Cooperation and Career Development of the Rectorate of the University of Montenegro, emphasizing that this type of extracurricular activities for students of the Maritime Faculty Kotorod is of great importance for their career planning orientation either on board or in another business system. This and similar initiatives highlight the importance of new forms of teaching and the inclusion of additional content for students such as workshops, projects, employer visits, summer schools, trainings, etc., in order to prepare in time for what awaits them in the labor market.
These and subsequent activities of the Faculty of Maritime Studies in Kotor are in line with the goals of international projects in which the faculty participates, among which is the three-year BLUEWBC project of the Erasmus + program, which began on January 15, 2020.
The Faculty of Maritime Studies in Kotor regularly organizes events that are important for informing students and members of the alumni base about all important steps related to their connection with business entities, as well as opportunities and ways to get a job.
This seminar was organized on the basis of the evident interest that was recorded at the recently held "Info Career Day", and the readiness of the captain of the long voyage Janko Milutin to share his experience.