By obtaining the Certificate of Excellence, maritime education and training establishments will be recognised for the quality of their education and training provision being delivered to an internationally recognised benchmark.
The scheme demonstrates that an institution has the management systems and physical and human resources to deliver high-quality education and training to support the maritime industry and is commended as a Centre of Excellence.
How does it work?
The IMarEST and Nautical Institute will work with an establishment that wishes to obtain Certificate of Excellence status. It will sign up to the Certificate of Excellence and demonstrate - through supplied documentation and a peer review visit - how it achieves that standard, its mission, and strategic aims and objectives.
Approved institutions will demonstrate they fully meet the International Standard for Maritime Sector education and training standards.
Standards
The Certificate of Excellence will be assessed against the centre’s own vision, mission, values, aims and objectives to ensure outputs are meeting the desired threshold.
The standards and assessment criteria are outlined here:
| Standard | Statement | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Education and training | The education and training establishment is expected to have clear processes in place to set required level standards, to ensure they are maintained and how they are awarded. |
Assessed against:
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| Education and training quality | The education and training establishment must have in place mechanisms and resources to support individuals to achieve their full potential. |
Assessed against:
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Institutional quality assurance |
The education and training establishment is expected to have in place rigorous systems to ensure that quality is maintained and improved. |
Assessed against:
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Application
The application for the Certificate of Excellence should be made using our online form. The formal request should contain:
- Details of the centre – including company name, physical address, and website(s)
- Details of the contact person at the centre
- A completed application/document showing how the centre meets the standards (Annex A)
- A library of all relevant internal documents outlined in the standard above (uploaded onto a secured shared space)
The length of the application document should be kept to a minimum and each section should include reference to all relevant internal document(s); these should, in the first instance be uploaded online.
Setting a date for the audit/assessment
The IMarEST, Nautical Institute, and the centre will agree on a date for the audit/assessment based upon availability of auditors and the schedule of courses at the centre. Centres must submit the required documentation at least one month prior to the requested date of visit so that pre-assessment queries can be resolved and travel arrangements booked.
The audit/assessment plan
The visit will be undertaken once the submitted application has been considered. The visit will normally last two days, depending on the scale and scope of the approval. In most cases the audit/assessment plan will follow the below schedule:
| Activity | Time | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-audit/ assessment | Within 30 days of application and at least 30 days prior to physical audit. | Materials submitted to the IMarEST and the Nautical Institute by the training provider will be reviewed – initial assessment must be approved for progression to visit. |
| Audit/ Assessment | Day One |
|
| Audit/ Assessment | Day Two |
|
| Post-audit | Within 30 days of visit |
Formal feedback will not be given at the end of the visit - the result of the visit will be relayed within this time period. |
Outcome
The IMarEST and Nautical Institute will write formally to award accreditation and certification. There are only two outcomes to this audit:
- Approved: The centre/institution is approved.
- Not Approved: The centre/institution is not approved and will receive feedback and an invitation to resubmit once feedback has been addressed.
Approval and certification
On successful approval, the IMarEST and Nautical Institute will issue a certificate to the provider with authorisation to add Certificate of Excellence logos and the words ‘Awarded a Certificate of Excellence by The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology and The Nautical Institute’ to its centre literature.
Once approved, the training/service provider may associate their product and/or service with the Certificate of Excellence logo. Centres must ensure they only use the approved logo.
Period of approval
The IMarEST/Nautical Institute approval is valid for a period of 60 months (5 years).
Fees
| First time application | £15,000 |
| Renewal | £14,000 |
Please note that the prices listed on this page are not inclusive of VAT which will be calculated after.
First time application and initial assessment
Centres wishing to apply for the scheme can use the form on this page to apply. Once submitted there is an initial desk-assessment and non-refundable registration fee of £1,000 if applicable.
Once the initial assessment has been approved for progression to visit, the application establishment will be contacted to arrange the formal visit. At this stage of the application, the applicant will be invoiced for total fee for the audit. The pricing structure for the audit, assessment and certification is detailed below:
| Fee | What it covers |
|---|---|
| £1,000 |
Centre registration fee (taken at the time of application and is non-refundable). This includes administrative support during application, collecting and storing information, website updates, certification etc. |
| £4,000 | Visit administration, planning, trip coverage, travel and subsidiaries |
| £10,000 |
Assessment/audit fee, which includes auditors, assessment and verification of all documentation, review and report |
Renewal of the Certificate of Excellence
Before the end of the five-year approval period, a continuation audit will be required including a site visit. This process involves a comprehensive review of the centre's operations, services, and outcomes to verify that it maintains the high standards required for accreditation.
Reapproval process
The reapproval process focuses on continuous improvement, accountability, and the effective use of resources to enhance the centre's capabilities and performance.
The process typically includes a thorough evaluation of the centre's adherence to specific standards and measures, documentation of outcomes, and an assessment of improvements made since the last accreditation.
By undergoing reaccreditation, centres demonstrate their commitment to excellence and their dedication to providing high-quality services to their stakeholders.
Centres wishing to achieve reapproval will need to complete the renewal application form. Once submitted there is an initial assessment: after this initial assessment has been approved for progression to visit, the application establishment will be contacted to arrange the formal visit. At this stage of the application, the applicant will be invoiced for total fee for the audit.
The pricing structure for the reapproval process is detailed below:
| Fee | What it covers |
|---|---|
| £4,000 | Assessment fee, this includes auditors, assessment and verification of all documentation, review and report |
| £10,000 | Administration, collecting and storing information, certification, planning, trip coverage, travel and subsidiaries |