At the AIDA Academy, our training and development center in Rostock, we bring together programs of study, training, and development under one roof. Its proximity to AIDA HQ is intentional. This is the best way for us to ensure a bi-directional transfer of know-how and to make sure that practical onboard experiences are integrated into research innovations. In September 2012, we opened a simulation center for nautical and technical officers at the AIDA Academy. It covers an area of 170 m2. Budding managers and junior staff practice maritime maneuvers and safety drills at regular intervals on a main bridge and four secondary bridges.
As well as providing our employees with classic training and workshops, we also use modern methods to help them gain qualifications, including blended learning and e-learning. The web-based AIDA Expert system is also part of this. Our employees can access it around the clock from anywhere with Internet access for independent learning. In addition to standard MS Office modules, the training catalog includes learning modules on occupational health and safety, and technical and method-based training. Our goal is to make online training as realistic as possible. That’s why we are also continually developing AIDA-specific programs that are precisely tailored to the different job specifications on board. Since 2012, our diverse offer has been further enhanced with special modules for the training courses, Ethics & Compliance courses, and English courses.
In 2012, we once again substantially increased the number of days of training that each employee receives. Whilst in 2011, our onboard employees received an average of 30.3 training hours a year, in 2012 we were able to increase this to 40.6 hours. Shoreside employees attended an average of 13.3 hours of courses. This was a further improvement on the 11.7 hours of courses that they attended in 2011. For more detailed statistics on training, please see AIDA in figures AIDA is the only shipping company in the world to train mechatronics engineers. It is of the utmost importance to us that training is practical and realistic. That is why the apprenticeship which takes three-and-a-half years also includes several months of practical training at sea. Since 1 September 2012, 180 young people have been undertaking a traineeship or a course of study in a nautical or technical field at AIDA Cruises. In 2013, AIDA Cruises continues to offer Bachelor study programs for ship operation engineering, nautical science and electrical engineering, in addition to the mechatronics engineer training program.
Information on all otherstudy programs is available on the AIDA Academy web page.
