The International Maritime Lecturers Association invites papers to be presented at a conference on engine room simulators. This global forum for the exchange of knowledge, experience, views, research results and the identification of common problems with respect to the specification, design and use of engine room simulators will be held in Portorož (Slovenia) in November 2005. The theme for this 7th International Conference on Engine Room Simulators (ICERS 7) is “Sharing Teaching Experiences”.

The conference will discuss all types of simulators whether full mission, part-task or desktop based.

ICERS 7 is organized in cooperation with the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transportation (Slovenia), and supported by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology. Papers on the following topics would be particularly welcome:

• The differences in teaching practice when using simulators in long courses, such as those integrated within cadet training programmes that are associated with the development of skills and knowledge of systems and the interaction of system components, as opposed to short courses for experienced seafarers, associated with plant and team management, diagnostics and problem solving
• The distinctive skills and competence acquired from simulator-based education and training as opposed to other means of education and training
• Research related to the learning outcomes within simulator-based education and training
• Research related to the differences in teaching practice when using simulators to train experienced senior officers as opposed to training cadets
• Distinctive teaching skills required for effective simulator-based education and training

Abstracts of papers (about 400 words) should be submitted by 1st June 2005.