Taking a degree to make a difference

Merchant Navy Medal recipient Gordon Foot decided to undertake a postgraduate degree in Maritime Operations at MLA College to arm himself with information for his work on behalf of other seafarers, writes Rob Coston

Gordon Foot is no stranger to maritime operations. Starting his career at sea in the Royal Navy at the age of 17, he spent 19 years as an engineer on nuclear submarines before joining the Merchant Navy within the offshore energy disciplines, where he has now spent more than 20 years. He even received the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service in 2021 for his broader work in the sector, which includes (among many other roles) mentoring, charity fundraising, and a position as chairman of the Nautical Institute UK SW Branch.

He was also already the holder of multiple Master's degrees. So, with all of this knowledge and experience, why go back to study an MBA in Maritime Operations?

Giving back to maritime

While many of his fellow students were studying to further their careers or looking to move ashore, Gordon had a different reason: 'Personally, I did it as a way of giving back to maritime,' he says.

Rather than just posting on social media about the need for changes in UK training and maritime management, he decided to undertake an MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree and use his dissertation to create original research that would change the conversation.

The MBA allowed him to look at upcoming trends in the industry, such as autonomous vessels, but he particularly wanted to examine the future of maritime leadership and the human element – how the industry should be treating seafarers. The course parameters were broad enough that he could identify his own subject for a research project.

His 2022 dissertation, titled Maritime leadership in a changing world: The role of the future professional mariner, examines UK maritime strategy and leadership in light of evolving technology – identifying gaps in UK maritime training and aiming 'to bridge the gap between future technical expectations and human-centric requirements to understand how the UK Merchant Navy will meet these challenges'.

The important thing for Gordon is that his work makes a difference. 'From an academic point of view, it's rewarding that the thesis is not just bound and stuck on a shelf. It's distributed. Everyone who was part of that research got a copy, and the press too.'

Accessing the course

Gordon graduated in 2023 after spending a year completing his MBA while working. He is keen to point out the accessibility of the qualification – it is conducted on a fully remote basis, and once downloaded does not require a permanent wi-fi connection, which enabled him to begin his studies while joining a vessel in the Pacific.

There are also grants and bursaries available to help people access the course, including for international students and women.

Finally, Gordon emphasises that age should not be a barrier for seafarers who want to improve their careers: 'I did my first degree at 50 years old. For those who wish to return to education, there are those opportunities there, and it's great.'