The competencies required by port economists, stevedores, technologists: a pilot study

Abstract

Port companies require employees characterized by specific professional competencies and at the same time – by general, i.e. social and personal ones. The European higher education system in terms of the Bologna Process should provide opportunities for students to develop their professional competencies needed. Students of modern port curriculum attend maritime academies. The scientific content of a competency usually includes knowledge, abilities, skills and attitudes in relation to the documents of the Bologna Process and national legislation. Specific investigations of the competencies, required by port personnel, have emerged over the past two decades. The purpose of the research is to characterize the need for the competencies required by port economist s, technologists and stevedores by assessing both – the need for professional competencies required by port terminal employees, and the importance of personal and social competencies required by port terminal employees. This is a pilot study. It allows to prepare for the future complex diagnostic study of the competencies required by Klaipeda State Seaport employees. Methods such as scientific literature analysis, questionnaire survey of port experts, statistical analysis, data interpretation, comparative analysis and synthesis were used in the research. The methodological principle, on which the research is based, is a comprehensive development. It highlights the importance of the universal personal development in relation to the physiological, psychological and spiritual needs of the personality in terms of his/her vocational education from the point of view of the port work reality, i.e. economic, managerial and technological functions, psychological self-management, communication and cooperation, leadership and self-leadership.