Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP), Kamaya Point Mariveles Bataan, Philippines

THE DUAL COURSE IN MAAP:

Recent Development in MET, Philippines

VAdm. Eduardo Ma. R. Santos, AFP (Ret), MAAP President Dr. Angelica M. Baylon, PhD Research and Extension Services Director C/E Cleto Del Rosario, Dean of Academics

ABSTRACT Dual education of officers has received tremendous support in Europe and has been successfully tried and tested on the vessels flagged with the Danish International Registry (DIS) MAERSK LINE, AP MOEHLER. AP Moehler, in its quest for quality maritime services and with the advancement in technology and challenges on onboard international vessels, had requested several maritime institutions all over the world to offer a dual course program designed to develop cadets to be Dual Maritime Leaders. AP Moehller had urged the MAAP, among other maritime schools in Asia, to offer a dual education for their selected sponsor cadets. MAAP, with its management, human resources and facility, has fulfilled the requirements regarding the dual officer concept and has manifested commitment to continue providing this program to young qualified future Filipino seafarers so that Philippines will not be left behind with the recent global trends in Maritime Education and Training.

This paper presents the rationale in offering the dual course program and its feasibility described in terms of five aspects: physical, marketing, technical, financial and b -socio-economic aspect. Further, this paper presents the dual course programme implementation in MAAP.

INTRODUCTION
Background and Rationale of the Offering of the Dual Course On March 11, 2003, AP Moeller Singapore PTE TTD represented by its Managing Director Ib Fruergaard together with his colleagues had met with MAAP Chairman Capt Gregorio S. Oca to discuss about the dual education of officers that has already received tremendous support in Europe and has been successfully tried and tested on their vessels flagged with the Danish International Registry (DIS). AP Moeller has recommended MAAP to offer dual education for marine officers because it has a facility and personnel to fulfill its requirement. On October 2, 2003, after necessary consultations and immediate actions the rationale to offer the new course was presented by MAAP President to Region III Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Director.

MAAP gain approval from CHED to offer a new course. The term recommended by the technical panel was Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation and Engineering.

Feasibility of the Dual Course

To know the impact of the new school course program, the following five factors have been taken into consideration: - Physical Aspect - Marketing Aspect - Technical Aspect - Financial Aspect - Socio-Economic Aspect

Physical Aspect Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP), Kamaya Point, established on January 14, 1998 at the coastal area of Mariveles, Bataan, Philippines . MAAP has: - T/S Kapitan Felix Oca - Vessel training center - Navigation simulator - Engine simulator - Liquid cargo handling simulator - Fire Fighting complex - Hydraulic pneumatic laboratory - Refrigeration and Air-conditioning laboratory - Electrotech laboratory - Machine Shop - Physics / Chemistry laboratory - Library - Computer Laboratory - Speech Laboratory

Marketing Aspect
The Dual Course is gradually becoming organized as an essential part of the established maritime educational system in Europe. The said course is being offered in Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and UK. The TecnEcon study also provides some figures on the estimated future supply of Danish seafarers which are based on the BIMCO /ISF 1995 Manpower update.

Table 1. Projected Future Supply of Seafarers on Danish Flag Ships

Crew Member
Officers Ratings Total

1995
5,600 5,700 11,300

2000
5,600 4,856 10,456

2005
5,600 4,137 9,737

Source: TechEcon 1996

Technical Aspect MAAP has the Academic Development Course Program and Guidance and Testing Program which enables the school to recruit desirable students with intellectual potentials who could contribute to the academic ferment in the MAAP educational process. To ensure that the quality of education given to the midshipmen is in line with the worlds best maritime institution, the academy: - has a Board of Admission that selects the incoming midshipmen - employed officers from the merchant fleet starting from second officers to captains for deck and third engineers to chief engineers for the engine department - commissioned the Phil. Navy and the Phil. Marines to help train the midshipmen physically, and psychologically - Faculty Development program - Research and extension services - PRC board examination assistance program

Financial Aspect
The European Commission has already agreed to support ordinary seamen on board Danish vessels. Since July 1997, there have also been some changes in the MET, regarding officer training. This leads to a dual-purpose qualification. (Calberg1998). According to the Dansk Navigatorforening.

Socio-economic aspect
This project is conceptualized in lieu of the demand for dual maritime education graduates who will be sponsored and eventually hired by the sponsoring company. For this pilot test project, the AP Moeller representative manifested commitment to provide the scholarship to at least 20 deserving MAAP students.

Taking a glimpse of the Medium Term Planning and Development (MTPD) 1999- 2004 in relation to the implementation of this project the offering of this new course, would in one or the other contribute to the basically four economic development goals of the Philippine government namely: - sustainable development - macroeconomic stability and sustainability, - international competitiveness - and human resource development.

The DUAL COURSE PROGRAM (BSMTE) AND ITS OBJECTIVES MAAP is offering of this course is in line with the its mission of providing quality education and training to midshipmen/trainees for the development of competent seafarers who shall possess the character, knowledge, and skills necessary for the successful pursuit of a maritime career, and its quality policy of commitment to a quality maritime education and training that satisfies customer requirements and achieves greater efficiency in its services through continual improvement system. Hence, the program main objectives are to: a) Revolutionize a brand new course based on the global demand in Europe, b) Supply the need and demand of sponsoring companies particularly the AP Moeller in producing dual maritime officers c) Maintain the premier position of the Philippines as the manning capital world d) Assist the government in terms of its four economic development goals, e) Provide additional opportunity for at least 20 scholars

Brief Description, Units and Activities of the Dual Course Programme This course follows a 3-1-1 curricular schedule with one year actual shipboard training on board MAERSKS LINE. The 2nd semester of their third year consists of theoretical education which shall be conducted aboard MAAP training ship, TS Kapitan Felix Oca, while the whole of their fourth year shall be aboard MAERSK LINE ships for the 1-year shipboard training. The students will undergo at least six months bridge watch keeping duties under the supervision of the Master or a qualified Deck Officer and six months duties in the engine department under the supervision of the Chief Engineer or a qualified Engine officer.

TABLE 2 Summary of Units and Activities for the proposed BSMTE Program
Year First Year (2004) Semester First Second Summer Second Year (2005) First Second Summer Third Year (2006) First Second Total Units / Semester (lec/lab) 26 units 26 units 11 units 26 units 27 units 9 units 26 units 19 units Summer SOLAS Training Theoretical Education Theoretical education on board the TSKFO and sponsor company vessel performing TRB Documentation and Short courses required by Shipping Company Summer Workshop Training Theoretical Education Activities Theoretical Education

Summer

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TABLE 2 Summary of Units and Activities for the proposed BSMTE Program
Year Fourth Year (2007) Semester First Second Summer Fifth Year (2008) 2008-2009 First Second 26 units 26 units Total Units / Semester (lec/lab) 40 units Activities Continuation and Completion of Shipboard Training from sponsoring company Theoretical Education and Extensive Simulator Training Completion of Theoretical Education and Comprehensive review and examination in preparation for PRC Licensure examination

TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS

260 units (193 and 87)

CONCLUSIONS This recent development in MET, would blaze the trail for dual officers. The offering of this dual course in the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific, is certainly one of the affirmative steps towards the production of a well-skilled, educated and competent citizenry/ maritime workforce that would certainly contribute to the accomplishment of four Philippine economic development goals namely: sustainable growth, macroeconomic sustainability, international competitiveness and human resource development. MAAP, a remarkably responsive educational institution is deeply committed in continually providing quality education and training to enhance the potentials of students and trainees for the attainment of a progressive transformation of the Filipino nation. Through this commitment, this Academy flies high with pride and dignity as the Filipino maritime nation progresses into the new decade.

RECOMENDATIONS Considering the market demand for dual course and the support being received by MAAP from MAERSK LINE, Denmark to offer the said course to its 50 scholars, there is a need for the Philippine government to continuously support this endeavor to sustain the Philippine MET in the coming years, otherwise the Philippines will lose an opportunity to participate in a growing market, which promises high revenues in the future.

It is also aspired that in the future, other sponsoring companies besides AP Moeller, will be supporting additional scholars for this new course and therefore increase the educational and employment opportunities for Filipino.