3 Steps To Evaluate Your Course Training Provider

This season is the optimal time for you to take advantage of available learning opportunities to advance yourself in your career path. Aside from working from home, more people are also studying to acquire more skills. If remote learning isn’t a viable option right now, it would still help to plan for the future.

For the maritime industry, becoming suitable seafarers takes a great deal of time and effort, and proper training plays a huge part in doing so. In evaluating OPITO training providers, for example, it would be practical to have an initial plan in checking the quality of instruction and credibility of your chosen institution.

Step 1: Know your destination.

For aspiring seafarers, it’s reasonable to start with, “What do you want to achieve by the end of your basic training?” Do you have particular skills or specific courses in mind? Aside from skills enhancement, how do you want to learn them? Are you open to remote learning?

You can start by making your own list of goals. These goals don’t have to be too specific for now. Knowing your destination (or stops in between) is the first step of planning your journey step by step.

Step 2: Research practical options.

Now that you have your goals, you can already set some standards - both negotiable and non-negotiable, depending on your overall situation. Look for at least 3 potential training providers and look up their websites or social media pages for their offerings.

Compare their company profiles, mission, and vision. Do they offer a wide enough range of courses recognized nationally or even globally? How do they differ in terms of curriculum, facilities, or modes of instruction? How long is the duration of their regular or offshore courses, if any? Are they well-accredited and up-to-date with the latest developments in the fast-moving maritime sector?

Fully understanding what you want in comparison to what can be offered will give you the right push to having the quality training fit for you.

Step 3: Measure for continuous success.

To quote Peter Drucker, the father of management thinking, “If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it. The same thing applies to your training provider evaluation.

Aside from assessing your test scores during training, ask yourself, “Was the course relevant to real-life practices?” What are the training program’s strengths and weaknesses? Was it able to accommodate your learning style and pace? For additional assessments, asking for feedback from your peers and external mentors would be helpful.

Overall, it is wise to remain strategic with your choice of course training provider from the start and even after its duration. You only want the best training to equip you with the most appropriate set of skills and mindset to aid you in becoming a good and reliable seafarer soon and in the long-run.