Ms. Zenaida Eugenia D. Palita, Senior Science Research Specialist of NMP presenting her study entitled “An Assessment of NMP’s Capability to Conduct Online Training”.

Tacloban City – A Research Forum was conducted by the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) on September 29, 2021 via the Zoom application as part of the agency’s series of events in celebrating the National Maritime Week. This forum was led by the Maritime Research and Development Division- Maritime Research Section (MRDD-MRS) and was attended by the officers and staff as well as the Guest Trainers of NMP.

The virtual activity served as the venue to present the results and findings of the institutional research study conducted and completed in 2020 entitled “An Assessment of NMP’s Capability to Conduct Online Training” as a response to the emerging challenge of adopting to the new platforms of learning and address the training needs of seafarers in the midst of the pandemic.

The research study, as presented by Ms. Zenaida Eugenia D. Palita, Senior Science Research Specialist of NMP, intends to assess the agency’s capability to conduct online training based on the following components: 1) policy, 2) operation and resources support, 3) technology and IT infrastructure, 4) content and method, and 5) instructors’ skills.

As the maritime industry adapts to the new normal era, the effective implementation of online training is one of NMP’s commitment to significantly contribute to the continuous maritime manpower development and provide rich learning experiences to seafarer trainees despite the adversities brought about by the pandemic.

Based on the challenges and gaps identified in the study, the following strategies were recommended:

  1. Establish the institution’s policy on online training to serve as a guide in the implementation of the program;
  2. Continuously enhance and advance the instructors’ technological knowledge and computer skills;
  3. Develop the eRegistration/ePayment and eLibrary systems; and
  4. Upgrade the internet connectivity to ensure a strong and stable connection or enough bandwidth in the training rooms where online training are being conducted.

An update on the existing strategies undertaken by NMP was also reported such as the inclusion of the improvement of IT infrastructures in the approved Information Systems Strategic Plan (ISSP) for CY 2021-2023, which includes the increase in internet bandwidth and upgrading of IT facilities. A Learning Management System (LMS) is likewise currently being developed as a platform for the e-learning of the different training courses of NMP. It was also agreed that a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) will be administered to instructors to assess and identify their IT training needs in order to boost their efficacy as online instructors.

In closing, Engr. Ponciano V. Trinidad, Head of Maritime Training and Assessment Division (MTAD) and NMP 43rd Anniversary Celebration Host, said that although NMP has been conducting online trainings, the inputs gathered in this research will be vital and will be very helpful in improving the delivery of online trainings of the agency.

To wrap up the activity, Ms. Elena Santos, Head of the MRS and facilitator of the forum, raised the challenge to the participants that as NMP strives to live up to its status as a premier maritime training center in the country, certain changes in all aspects of the institution must be effected as it transitions from the conventional mode of training to the online learning platform, and everyone must work together as a team to achieve this goal.

 

For more information of the NMP’s Researches, interested stakeholders may access our e-Research Portal at https://research.nmp.gov.ph/ or visit the official website  at www.nmp.gov.ph to view relevant activities and updates related to our services.