MARINA, CHED, PMMA develop standard program for maritime education
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), in collaboration with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA), developed standard program for Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation (BSMT) and Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering (BSMarE), which will be implemented by all maritime schools across the country.
The development of course package for the said BS maritime programs is part of Executive Order No. 63 (EO 63) that mandated MARINA as the single maritime administration in the country’s full and effective implementation of the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention 1978, as amended.
The BSMT and BSMarE programs are developed in accordance with the minimum standards of competence, and required knowledge, understanding and proficiency as prescribed by the STCW Convention for officers in charge of a navigational watch on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more, as well as for officers in charge of an engineering watch in a manned engine room or as designated duty engineers in a periodically unmanned engine room of ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW or more.
In the planned development, the standardization of BSMT and BSMarE course package will be composed of: Part A – Course Specification; Part B – Course Outline; Part C – Detailed Teaching Syllabus; and Part D – Course Assessment.
The approved course package for BSMT and BSMarE programs shall be the minimum prescribed curricula allowing maritime higher education institutions (MHEIs) to guarantee academic freedom protected by the constitution of the country.
In support to this, the MARINA will be also conducting a handholding activity through conducting a series of workshop-training on course designing for PMMA course developers. This aims to discuss mechanism and to set uniform understanding in standardizing the curriculum for the said BS programs.
Meanwhile, the MARINA ensures that the development is in accordance with the approved MARINA/CHED procedures and that records of review and validation will be maintained.
Finally, as part of the Philippines’ commitment in producing globally competitive seafarers, the MARINA emphasizes the freedom of maritime schools to aim beyond the minimum standards while ensuring full compliance with the provisions of the STCW Convention.