Founded in 2011, the English Language Department for Marine Engineers is a distinct structural division of the Kherson State Maritime Academy (HDMA). Following the initial leadership of Associate Professor Natalia Ohorodnyk, PhD, the Department was headed by Associate Professor Oleksandra Litikova, PhD, since 2015. Under her ten-year tenure, the Department has achieved significant developmental stability. At present, the scientific and pedagogical potential of the Department consists of 12 highly qualified specialists, including: 1 professor, 5 associate professors and 6 senior lecturers.
Strategic Goal of the Department is to ensure high-quality language training by integrating IMO and STCW standards into the educational process. This approach facilitates the development of essential communicative competencies, enabling graduates to function effectively and safely within the international maritime sector.
The tasks subordinated to the specified goal
- To achieve the established goal, the Department focuses on the following core objectives across all levels of study:
–Bachelor’s Level (Years 1–4): To develop strong oral and written professional communication skills. Training follows the Maritime English curriculum, with a specific focus on the practical operation of ship systems.
–Master’s Level (Years 5–6): To build advanced competencies through Business English, preparing students for leadership roles, high-level business correspondence, and professional communication as part of a ship’s command staff.
–Doctoral Level (Academic & Scientific): To provide specialized instruction in English for Academic Purposes, equipping future researchers to author theses and articles and represent the academy at international conferences.
- To achieve excellence in maritime education, the Department focuses on three strategic pillars:
— Adherence to International Standards Practical training for both full-time and part-time students is aligned with IMO Model Course 3.17 (Maritime English) recommendations in providing communicative, competency-based and deep learning approaches. Our curriculum fulfills the professional competency requirements defined by the STCW 78/95 Convention, ensuring our graduates meet global safety and communication standards.
— Advanced Pedagogical Frameworks The Department utilizes a communicative and student-centered approaches tailored for adult learners (andragogy). The combination of competency-based and hard&soft skills-based instruction fosters independence and motivation, facilitating the transformation of cadets into self-reliant professionals.
— Interdisciplinary Integration The department bridges the gap between language and engineering through advanced strategies, namely: Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) – teaching language through technical maritime content; Deep Learning – ensuring a profound, conceptual understanding of professional materials; Practice-Oriented Learning – applying linguistic skills to real-world shipboard scenarios and technical operations.
The English Language Department for Marine Engineersmanages a wide range of academic and scientific activities, including:
Curriculum Development: Regularly updating working curricula and syllabi to align with the requirements of both full-time and part-time study programs.
Instructional Quality Control: Ensuring that practical training sessions adhere to modern pedagogical frameworks:
— Years 1–2: The PPP (Presentation, Practice, Production) model.
— Years 3–4: The ESA/EASA (Engage, Study, Activate) framework.
— Year 5: A Patchwork Integrative Approach, combining communicative, project-based, and game-based methods with CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) and experiential learning.
Student Support & Consultation: Coordinating independent study and providing academic consultations to prepare students for examinations and assessments.
Performance Monitoring: Analyzing the quality of student training through intersessional controls and semester examination results.
Career Preparation: Assisting students in preparing for interviews with international crewing companies to facilitate successful employment.
Digital Resource Management: Developing and updating electronic content (including textbooks, interactive tests, and multimedia resources) within the Moodle platform.
Professional Development: Hosting seminars and webinars for teachers on emerging English language teaching (ELT) methodologies and technologies.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Conducting peer observations and collaborating with specialized departments to ensure textbook content aligns with engineering standards.
Student Research Initiatives: Engaging cadets in scientific inquiries and preparing them for participation in student conferences.
Scientific Research: Publicizing the Department research findings in scientific areas, specifically:
— Skills-based approach to teaching English to future specialists in ship power engineering
— Andragogical Principles in Modern Maritime English Instruction
Department Development Prospects
The department is focused on the following strategic improvements:
- Curriculum Alignment: Update “Maritime English” and “Business English” textbooks to reflect current requirements for Management of Ship Technical Systems and Complexes (J5.02) and Operation of Ship Electrical Equipment and AutomationDevices (J5.03).
- Standardized Module Design: Unify textbook structures to follow a consistent format, including clear lesson outlines, learning objectives, and work stages.
- Assessment Update: Revise current (forming), intermediate (modular), and final assessments to align with updated course content and international standards.
- Digital Transformation: Update the Moodle platform with enhanced electronic resources, integrating innovative pedagogical approaches and optimized online learning methodologies.