Abstract: Curriculum relevance remains a central concern in engineering and professionally oriented higher education, particularly within Maritime Education and Training (MET), where graduates are expected to meet both academic standards and the operational demands of the global maritime industry. Mathematics plays a foundational role in marine engineering education, underpinning navigation, propulsion systems, stability analysis, thermodynamics, electrical systems, and operational decision-making. Despite its recognized importance, students and graduates frequently question the relevance of mathematics to their studies and future careers, especially when mathematical instruction appears abstract or weakly connected to maritime practice. This study examines students’ and graduates’ perceptions of the relevance of the MET mathematics curriculum, using the Marine Engineering programme at the Regional Maritime University (RMU), Ghana, as a case study. Grounded in curriculum relevance theory, expectancy–value theory, and employability discourse, the study synthesizes empirical insights from students and graduates and situates the findings within broader international debates on mathematics and engineering education. The findings indicate that while the MET mathematics curriculum is widely perceived as relevant for academic progression and conceptual understanding, its relevance to professional maritime practice is less visible to learners, particularly during training. Graduates, however, tend to retrospectively acknowledge the indirect and enabling role of mathematics in professional competence and adaptability. The study argues that enhancing curriculum relevance requires deliberate contextualization, pedagogical integration, and closer alignment of mathematical learning with maritime career pathways and industry practices.
Keywords: MET mathematics, curriculum relevance, marine engineering education, graduate perceptions, Ghana.
Title: Students’ and Graduates’ Perceptions of the Relevance of the Maritime Education and Training (MET) Mathematics Curriculum to Their Studies and Future Careers
Author: Gabriel S. Akakpo
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
Vol. 14, Issue 1, January 2026 - March 2026
Page No: 132-143
Research Publish Journals
Website: www.researchpublish.com
Published Date: 19-February-2026
