Maritime
Credit: marina.gov.ph
MARINA, CHED, PMMA, MHEIs Revamp
PH Maritime Education Programs
T
he Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), together
with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the
Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA), and the
maritime higher education institutions (MHEIs) across the
country, revamped the Philippine maritime education
programs through the National Consultation on the Joint
CHED Memorandum - MARINA Circular on the Revised
Policies, Standards, and Guidelines for the Bachelor of
Science in Marine Transportation (BSMT) and Bachelor of Science in
Marine Engineering (BSMarE) programs on 15 January 2019.
The participating government agencies and the private sector worked
on the realignment of the Philippine maritime education policies and
regulations with Executive Order No. 63 that mandated the MARINA as the
single maritime administration in the full and effective implementation of
the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers
(STCW) Convention 1978, as amended.
MARINA Officer-in-Charge Vice Admiral Narciso Vingson Jr
emphasized that the Joint CHED Memorandum - MARINA Circular
addresses the need for a more responsive policy to ensure the
competitiveness of the Philippines’ BSMT and BSMarE graduates, based
on international standards.
“Our commitment to the STCW Convention shall lead us to the
full adoption and implementation of the STCW requirements in our
maritime education and training system. As the country’s single maritime
administration, it is our goal to implement a set of maritime education
program standards and consolidate all academic and shipboard training
requirements under a set of national policy, standards, and guidelines,”
Vice Admiral Vingson said.
Vice Admiral Vingson also recognized the combined efforts of the
MARINA, CHED, PMMA and MHEIs in defining the developmental goals
and targets of the Philippine maritime education and training, as well as
in raising awareness on the impact of the whole of government approach
for sustainable development in the maritime landscape, most especially
in the maritime workforce.
Among the issues discussed at the national public hearing were the
BSMT and BSMarE program specifications, standards of competence,
assessment, and conferment of the said degrees. Also raised were
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MARINA Officer-in-Charge Vice Admiral
Narciso Vingson Jr. in discussion with some
of the participants
clarifications on the curriculum; course specifications; required facilities,
and equipment; research and extension; quality standards system;
admission and retention; compliance of MHEIs, and; miscellaneous
provisions, among others.
The results of the consultation were discussed further by the Technical
Panel for Maritime Education (TPME), for recommendation to the
commission en banc of CHED. The improvements on the revised policies,
standards, and guidelines for the Bachelor BSMT and BSMarE programs
are scheduled to be forwarded to MHEIs in December 2019 and for full
implementation in 2020, with the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy
(PMMA) as the lead implementer.
Before adjournment, the MARINA encourages participating
stakeholders to continuously contribute in the continuing recognition
of the Philippines as the world’s top provider of world class and globally
competitive seafarers. Credit: marina.gov.ph
Credit: marina.gov.ph
Top Martime Personallities Particpants joining in the discussion