Short in funds – short in staff
Russia’s shipping and shipbuilding sectors experience severe shortage of personnel while industry focused education is short of financing. There are only two ways out – ask either government or business for money.
No money – no people
Shipping and shipbuilding sectors are short of new qualified personnel with practical experience. In this context, experts of the industry consider it necessary to develop the practical component of the education process, attract more teachers with practical skills. Yet, those tasks bump up against money.
Rosmorrechflot (Federal Marine and River Transport Agency) has developed a project of new education and training vessel based on the Professor Khlyustin design. The new ship is to be 7,000 t in deadweight, 5,000 t in capacity and to be ice-reinforced. In summers the ship is supposed to service the programme of northern delivery while in winters she is to make training voyages in the Baltic Sea.
However, Aleksandr Poshivai, Deouty Head of Rosmorrechflot, who spoke at the 8th International Conference ‘Personnel Polcy’ in Saint-Petersburg, the Agency’s budget lacks money for construction of this ship. It requires financing from the Ministry of Industry and Trade within the framework of the state shipbuilding programme. If no financing is provided the Agency will look into raising funds through leasing.
As Sergei Baryshnikov, Rector of Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping (Saint-Petersburg), said at the Conference, the institutions should attract more teachers with practical skills though experienced crewmembers are reluctant to become teachers. The more so as absence of academic degrees will not let them have high salaries. Sergei Baryshnikov believes, the system of grants could contribute to solving this problem.
Shipbuilding sector is also challenged with the personnel deficiency. According to Eduard Bobritsky, Director of Human Resources Management Department at United Shipbuilding Corporation, experienced personnel gradually leave the industry with lack of sufficient and adequate personnel to replace them. Among major causes he names the demographic gap and little prestige of the profession.
Oleg Solyakov, Pro-rector for Research at Moscow State Academy of Water Transport, says state contract is needed for R&D and for personnel training.
According to him, stage-by-stage implementation of the state personnel order will be probably required, differentiated approach to the development of different sciences and technologies, targeted financial support of staff and R&D.
Besides, additional inflow of personnel could be ensured through distance education system developed by Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping. According to Aleksandr Poshivai, it is undergoing final adjustments. Introduction of this system will let involve people living in remote regions.
So, here are the key aspects of personnel problems: demographic gap, insufficient financing and practice, low prestige of the related professions. The demographic gap will disappear naturally (rise in births following the bust of 90-ies). It is important to make young people feel the high prestige of shipping and shipbuilding professions. Joint efforts of the state, industry related educational institutions and business are required. It is at least irrational to save on expenses for the future transport sphere in the country with the longest distances.
Vitaly Chernov
