Factors impacting curricula in maritime simulator-based education

Abstract The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) provides a foundational framework for maritime education and training (MET). However, variations in its interpretation across different nations and institutions lead to diverse teaching practices and strategies. This diversity stems from differences in national regulations, resources, cultures, and the perspectives of institutions and instructors. This study introduces a concept map to scaffold the key concepts influencing maritime simulator-based education. By examining both the education system and student factors, the concept map offers insights into these various factors through observations from simulator-based teaching sessions and discussions with maritime educators and students. This tool can help identify differences and highlight good practices. It is a valuable resource for stakeholders, promoting a novel approach to developing an effective, comprehensive, coherent maritime simulator-based education.