TACLOBAN CITY – A warm and friendly reception was extended by the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) to the officials of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) during their benchmarking visit at NMP Tacloban on 09 February 2023.
The PMMA delegation, led by Ms. Victoria Q. Paraggua, Department of Research, Development and Extension (DRDE) Director, expressed her admiration for NMP’s commitment to maritime research, stating, “We are here today to learn from NMP’s successful concepts and methods on how they do their research. As both NMP and PMMA are government-owned institutions, it is important that we collaborate and work together in order to make the Philippines a better research country.”
During the visit, the group had an extensive discussion about the procedures and processes employed by NMP in the conduct of its maritime research and initiatives, thereby, gaining insight into the various stages of the Agency’s research projects and the techniques used to gather and analyze data. Both agencies also shared their best practices and explored potential areas for collaboration.
PMMA shared details about their multi-role training vessel project, which is designed to address the shortage of shipboard training opportunities for maritime students. An initiative that would provide NMP seafarer-trainees with the chance to gain hands-on experience through practical training onboard and also offer immersion programs for NMP faculty members, allowing them to further their understanding of the maritime industry and enhance their ability to prepare the next generation of maritime professionals. Currently, the project proposal is with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), for review.
They also made mention that their graduate school is offering a master’s degree program in Shipping Management and Maritime Education and Training that can be taken online. They suggested that NMP should take advantage of this opportunity, especially for those looking to advance their education and careers in the maritime industry.
Meanwhile, NMP shared its plan of reviving its publication of the Philippine Journal on Maritime Education and Training (PJMET) this year. PJMET features studies and papers related to maritime education and training, with contributions from local and international authors. NMP will partner with PMMA as a peer-reviewer of the publication. This partnership will improve the quality of PJMET and make it a valuable resource for the maritime community.
After the meeting, the PMMA officials went on a tour of the NMP Complex. They visited the Boat Davit area, where they observed practical exercises and assessments taking place, the NMP Training Pool, and several simulators located in the NMP Training Building.
The visit was a clear demonstration of the importance of partnerships between institutions in the maritime sector and the many benefits it can bring to students, faculty, and the maritime industry as a whole.
Those interested to take NMP training programs may visit the Online Registration System via register.nmp.gov.ph or the agency’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/nmptrainingcenter) where all updates and relevant information on NMP programs are available. Likewise, for information on NMP research undertakings, please visit the NMP’s e-Researh Portal (www.research.nmp.gov.ph) which is designed to disseminate NMP completed researches, present the Research agenda, and engage the industry stakeholders to collaborate in the research activities.