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IHK Schleswig-Holstein
Young maritime talents: on, in and by the water
Water lover or landlubber? Do you prefer being on, in or by the water? With 1,110 kilometres of coastline, a strong maritime economy and pioneering research, Schleswig-Holstein is the ideal location for training and studying in the maritime sector.
The state offers a wide range of facilities for maritime training and study. These include in particular:
• Vocational schools with a maritime specialisation, e.g. in Flensburg, Kiel or Brunsbüttel. They offer training courses for prospective ship mechanics, ship operation technicians and plant engineers.
• Christian Albrecht University in Kiel, which offers courses such as ‘Biological Oceanography’ and ‘Marine Geosciences’.
• Kiel University of Applied Sciences, with its mechanical engineering department and courses in ‘Shipbuilding and Maritime Technology’ or ‘Renewable Offshore Energy’.
• Flensburg University of Applied Sciences, which offers courses such as ‘Maritime Technology’ or ‘Ship and Port Operations’.
• The Centre for Maritime Training in Rendsburg, which runs practical courses in nautical and technical ship management.
• The West Coast University of Applied Sciences, which offers degree programmes in the fields of ‘Green Technology’ and ‘International Tourism Management’.
• GEOMAR not only trains the marine researchers of tomorrow, but also offers training courses for precision mechanics, IT specialists and animal keepers.
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The Ocean Race Europe 2025
These institutions do valuable work in training and further educating skilled workers for the maritime industry. They are closely networked with companies such as shipyards, shipping companies and the maritime supply industry, as well as institutions and authorities. What they all have in common is that they offer a wide range of career prospects at sea and on land.
Despite its solid foundation, maritime education in Schleswig-Holstein faces several challenges:
• Skills shortage: The demand for well-trained personnel is increasing, but young talent is hard to find. More active communication and a focus on topics such as climate protection and sustainability can help in the search for young talent.
• Digitalisation and automation: The maritime industry is undergoing profound change due to technologies such as autonomous shipping, data-based logistics and AI-supported maintenance. These topics are both an opportunity and a challenge.
• International competition: Study and training programmes must remain competitive in terms of quality, even in international comparison. This includes modern infrastructure, good language skills and international cooperation. The degree programmes, many of which are already offered in English, point in precisely this direction.
• Green transition: The maritime industry must become more climate-friendly. This requires specific knowledge of alternative propulsion systems, hydrogen technologies and emission-free logistics. A deeper understanding of the oceans, the development of technologies for cleaning up the oceans and new materials are also part of sustainable marine professions. Relevant content is increasingly being integrated into training programmes.
and sailing. In many schools and universities, sailing is not just a leisure activity, but part of the education and research programme. Sailing promotes teamwork, navigation, practical seamanship and a basic understanding of wind, weather and water. And the water on the university's doorstep is a special magnet anyway.
A special example is Kiel University of Applied Sciences, which operates its own sailing ship and actively integrates sailing into its training programmes. Many maritime training centres also rely on sailing training to supplement technical and theoretical training. Schleswig-Holstein benefits here from its long coastline and well-developed infrastructure with sailing clubs, marinas and training centres.
The state between the seas has a solid infrastructure for maritime training and study. Its close links with industry, good location and sailing tradition offer ideal conditions. However, technological change, the demand for skilled workers and the need for sustainability require constant further development of content and structures.
If Schleswig-Holstein continues to exploit its maritime opportunities, the state will not only be able to maintain its leading maritime position, but also expand it further – as a modern, sustainable centre of maritime education in Europe.
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