WMU says the Revised Third Edition of the WMU Publication, Practical Teaching Skills for Maritime Instructors by Dr. Peter Muirhead and Dr. Darrell Fisher, is now available. Nearly 20 years after its initial release, the book continues to be a valuable resource for Maritime Education and Teaching (MET) instructors worldwide.
The idea for the publication emerged during 1993-1995, when former WMU Rector Danny Waters and Professor Emeritus Peter Muirhead were part of a small team of consultants contracted to assist the then IMO STW sub-committee carry out the review of the STCW Convention. The team provided, in particular, numerous working drafts on new aspects of quality assurance systems, the use of simulation and maritime education and training matters in general.
Following the completion of the Consultancy, Professor Muirhead became a member of the IMO team that ran a number of implementation seminars around the world for member governments and their institutions between 1996 and 1997. This experience led him to realise that there was a need for WMU to provide some form of practical support to new and existing maritime instructors, lecturers and administrators in MET institutions, with a particular focus on the developing world. This became the foundation for the book “Practical Teaching Skills for Maritime Instructors”.
Professor Muirhead invited Professor Darrell Fisher, WMU Visiting Professor, to contribute several education-based chapters to the first edition, which was published in 2001. In a second edition released in 2005, two new chapters - dealing with Cyberspace and Distance Learning and Changing Technology for MET Institutions - were incorporated. Following the IMO Manila amendments in 2010, a third edition of the book was produced in 2013. Professor Muirhead found it necessary to bring the book up to date again on account of further amendments to the STCW Convention and Code, revision of model courses and changes in technology. This has resulted in the current 2019 Revised 3rd Edition.
The book’s concept has always been based on the premise of WMU/IMO aiding the developing world’s MET institutions and educators to meet the new standards required by the STCW Convention 1978, as amended. This premise has not changed until today and the book has proved a valuable MET resource in developing as much as developed countries and contexts.
“The book is designed as a working manual/textbook, equally at home in Northern China as in Tropical Africa. Affordability is a key factor to the continued success of the book. It was, and still is, developed to be an economically produced book to meet fast on-demand availability. This keeps capital outlay to a minimum and ensures no unsold volumes are left around from long print runs,” stated Professor Emeritus Muirhead.
Neither Professor Muirhead nor Dr Fisher have ever sought or received any payment for time spent on researching, writing and preparing the book, nor from sales of the book. It has been their expressed desire to freely contribute their efforts through WMU so that MET stakeholders around the globe can meet IMO objectives and standards. All proceeds from the sale of the book go to WMU to further the development and expansion of its capacity-building activities. All students enrolled in WMU’s MET Specialization are provided with a complimentary copy as part of their course programme. Professor Emeritus Muirhead has handed over editorial control for future editions to Professor Michael Ekow Manuel who is the current Head of the MET Specialization at WMU.
Dr. Doumbia-Henry, President of WMU, welcomed the updated publication stating: “This important publication ensures that seafarer education and training instructors have the most up to date expertise and tools to work with. It also enables those responsible for the supervision of such instruction in maritime training academies around the world to be equipped with the best available knowledge, as well as the expertise they need, to ensure optimum training of seafarers for a safe, secure and environmentally sustainable maritime industry.”