With strong credentials and reputation, Metropolitan College’s Superyacht Academy presents a breakthrough educational approach with an international perspective in Greece.
Having recognized the increasing training gap in the yachting industry and after conducting thorough research regarding the needs of the market, the Superyacht Academy of Metropolitan College in Piraeus offers Yacht Crew training programmes of the highest standards, in collaboration with Warsash Superyacht Academy (part of Solent University in Southampton), the Maritime and Coastguard Agency of the UK (MCA), the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and the International Association of Maritime Institutions (IAMI). The purpose of all yacht training is to provide participants with advanced knowledge and skills that will enable them to succeed in an industry that is both extremely demanding and competitive.
Talk to us about the reasons that led you to the founding the Metropolitan College Maritime & Superyacht Academy through a collaboration with Solent University in Southampton.
The establishment of the Maritime & Superyacht Academy in May 2018 marked a new era for Metropolitan College and Greek education in general. It was a strategic decision that we have been preparing the last years with very careful steps and extensive industry research. In a country like Greece – the world’s first maritime power – we believe we must offer young people a highlevel maritime education. The aim of the Metropolitan College is to offer the opportunity to young people to attend one of the best naval academies in the world, without leaving our beautiful country. True to our educational vision, we chose an exclusive partnership in Greece with the Warsaw Maritime & Superyacht Academy, the world’s leading naval academy of Solent University in Southampton, which has been offering the entire range of maritime training for 70 years. Courses are accredited by the Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and are fully-recognized by hundreds of maritime authorities around the world – including Greece.
What are the comparative advantages of your programs in relation to other public and private institutions?
Metropolitan College is the only educational institution in Greece that offers the whole range of maritime and yacht training: Officers of the merchant navy, Maritime and Port Management Bachelors and Masters Studies, and Yacht and Superyacht courses. Networking with the largest shipping companies in the field is our primary concern in order to develop relationships that will help us provide an integrated, hands-on training. Another important advantage is the fact that Metropolitan College is the only educational institution that has obtained certifications from the most important international organizations and agencies in the Shipping, such as the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology and DNV-GL. It is also certified by PYA (Professional Yachting Association) and IAMI (The International Association of Marine Investigators) and is a Royal Yachting Association RYA Training Center. At the same time, it is member of the International Association of Shipowners of Dry Cargo – INTERCARGO, the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology – IMarEST, the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association – HELMEPA and the Baltic and International Maritime Council – BIMCO. This ensures the high educational quality of our courses and the international networking of academics and students with the global maritime and yachting industry.
And what about the Academy’s training facilities? Where are they located and what do they include?
The Maritime & Superyacht Academy is based in a fully renovated 3.500m² building in the heart of Piraeus. The state-of-the-art campus is located in Terpsithea Square, with easy access to both metro and other public transport, while the pulse of city life strikes loudly in the area, with direct access to the local market and harbor. It is the outcome of an extremely large investment in the architectural design and functionality of the facilities, as well as in the state-of-the-art labs with the most modern technological equipment, according to the standards set by Solent University. Our facilities include Full Mission Bridge Simulator, ECDIS Suite, Full Mission Engine Room Simulator, Engineering Plant, Seamanship Centre, Navigation Lab, Efficient Deck Hand Room, Hospitality Centre, etc. The infrastructure and equipment that Metropolitan College has invested in gives students the opportunity to be trained in an unparalleled environment, where they can develop as maritime and yachting professionals.
The Superyacht Academy offers a wide range of training programs. Would you like to tell us more about them?
Metropolitan College offers for the first time in Greece integrated training in the Yacht & Superyacht sectors, in cooperation with Warsaw Superyacht Academy. The courses are among the top Yachting training programs in the world. They include theoretical and practical training and are designed to meet the latest high demands in Deck and Engine Officers and Crew Training. Through our collaboration with the International Association of Maritime Institutions (IAMI), we offer a Yacht Steward course as well as the G.U.E.S.T. program, the only Internationally-accredited Maritime Hospitality & Service Training and Certification program available to Crew working in the Luxury Super Yacht sector. We also offer a Yacht Chef course, suitable for land chefs who wish to pursue a career in the yachting industry. The programme aims to provide participants with the necessary skills required to meet the challenges of a Chef position aboard a superyacht, such as delivery of well-presented and varied dishes, ability to develop a large repertoire of recipe ideas and execute them with confidence, creative thinking, effective space and provision management, etc. All courses aim to create integrated yachting professionals able to offer 7* services in the most demanding sector of superyachts, and are internationally recognized. Designed by Yachting Professionals, they are the minimum level of hospitality and service training needed from those working in the internal departments of yachts.
Trainers have a wide and long-term know-how and experience of the yachting industry, the premium hospitality and the quality of the skills required. Finally, through our cooperation with the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), we offer specialized certifications for yacht crews including: Yachtmaster Ocean, Yachtmaster Offshore, Yachtmaster Coastal, Advanced Powerboat, Tender Operator, Powerboat Level 2 and VHF. All programs are designed to develop the knowledge and skills of both new entrants in the profession and current professionals. For the Yacht Hospitality training courses [Yacht Steward and Yacht Chef], Metropolitan College offers a specially designed Hospitality Center, which includes a Room Simulator, Bar Simulator, Kitchen and Fine Dining Facilities.
Are there any exclusive seminars available, ideal for current professionals in the yachting industry?
Yes, we offer a series of exclusive seminars, in areas such as Introduction to the superyacht industry, Teambuilding & communication skills, Interior inventory management, Interior accounting, Introduction to yacht wellness & massage treatment, Special event planning, Effective HRM and Art appreciation. Through these seminars, a current yacht professional can be more competitive in the very demanding sector of Superyacht Hospitality.
What are the professional prospects of your graduates?
Both in Greece and abroad, the professional prospects for our graduates are excellent. As long as they have a UK public university degree or a Certificate with international recognition in their hands, they will have the opportunity to work at all levels of the yachting industry, both in yachts, super yachts and mega yachts. Let’s keep in mind that Yachting is considered as the industry in which shipping meets tourism, and we all know that it shows
great growth globally, rewarding those who stand out for their professionalism. Our graduates will have the opportunity to distinguish themselves thanks to their integrated training and the industry know-how that they will acquire during their studies. Metropolitan College has established strong links with the yachting industry and students have the opportunity to gain direct experience through a series of educational visits and specialized lectures and seminars from leading market executives.
