The effects of maritime business education on students' attitudes towards the profession and their intention to continue: The example of Akdeniz University

The aim of this thesis research is to examine the impact of perceived quality and satisfaction leves in maritime education on students' attitudes towards their profession and their intentions to continue in the field. To achieve this objective, a quantitative research design was adopted and data were collected using a survey method. Reliability and validity were tested through confirmatory factor analysis, and a structural equation modeling approach was employed. The direct effects of perceived quality and satisfaction levels in maritime education on students' professional attitudes and intentions to continue in the profession were investigated through hypotheses developed based on existing literatüre. Data were collected from students studying in the Maritime Business Administration program at Akdeniz University Finike Vocational School and the Maritime Faculty of Akdeniz University Kemer. The students were approached face-to-face, and a total of 234 survey responses were analyzed. To test the hypotheses, Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) based on the Smart PLS algorithm was applied. The findings of the study indicate that the quality of maritime education and student satisfaction have a significant impact on students' professional attitudes. It was found that satisfaction does not have a significant effect on professional attitudes and intentions to continue in the profession. Additionally, it was concluded that students' perception of quality does not significantly affect their intention to continue. Based on the findings obtained, this study provides both theoretical and methodological contributions. This thesis work addresses the existing gap in the literature by presenting the relationships it establishes and offering conceptual evaluations related to maritime education, thereby providing a holistic perspective on the subject. Drawing from the research findings, implications and recommendations have been made for institutions offering Maritime Business Administration education in Maritime Faculties and Vocational Schools, as well as for researchers interested in conducting similar studies.