Competency-Based Maritime Education for Industry 4.0: Bridging the Skills Gap Between Training Institutions and Shipping Industry Demands

Abstract

This research investigates competency gaps between maritime education curricula and Industry 4.0 shipping industry requirements from stakeholder perspectives within Indonesian maritime training contexts. Employing qualitative-dominant mixed methods, the study gathered insights through Focus Group Discussions, interviews, and surveys with forty-two participants comprising maritime students, lecturers, and veteran practitioners at Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Pelayaran Jakarta. Thematic analysis revealed substantial competency gaps (mean gap score: 1.96/5.0) between stakeholder-perceived competency importance (4.46/5.0) and current curriculum adequacy (2.50/5.0). Cybersecurity awareness exhibited the largest gap (2.6 points), followed by data analytics (2.2 points) and AI/machine learning understanding (2.3 points). Faculty expertise limitations (29%) and infrastructure constraints (25%) emerged as dominant transformation barriers. Findings demonstrate urgent need for competency-based curriculum transformation integrating digital literacy, data analytics, cybersecurity, and adaptive learning capabilities alongside traditional maritime competencies. The research emphasizes integrated remediation strategies combining systematic curriculum reform, enhanced pedagogical approaches prioritizing practical hands-on learning, strengthened industry-academia partnerships, comprehensive faculty development programs, and strategic infrastructure investments preparing maritime graduates for technologically transformed operational environments.