Filipina naval architect bags China marine grant

Filipina naval architect bags China marine grant
GENIVI FACTAO August 07, 2019 https://www.manilatimes.net/filipina-naval-architect-bags-china-marine-g...

(From left ) Julie Zhu, Mika Ramos, Thaddeus Jovellanos and President Li Ping of Harbin Engineering University Ship Equipment and Technology Co. Ltd. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
China’s Harbin Engineering University (HEU) has awarded marine scholarship grants to Asian engineers, including a Filipina naval architect who will be trained on shipbuilding engineering and research.

Engineer Mika Ramos, 22, was admitted to the master in design and construction of naval architecture and ocean structure program, which will start on Sept. 1, 2019. Ramos will be joined by Prarom Amponsiri of Thailand in the three-year scholarship program.

Other recipients of the 2019 Marine Scholarship of China were engineers from Pakistan, who will take information and communication engineering, and the underwater acoustics engineering courses.

“It’s a great privilege to be chosen as a Chinese government scholar, this is why I should be ready holistically before our classes start. Mathematics is one of the foundations of my studies in naval architecture and ocean engineering that’s why I took a two-month advanced engineering math refresher program,” Ramos said.

To keep herself fit, Ramos started re-reading Naval Architecture related books as if she’s reviewing for the board examination.

“I’m also planning to take a short-term course in writing and reading Mandarin for easy communication with the Chinese in and out of the University,” she said.

Ramos graduated with a bachelor of science degree in naval architecture and marine engineering (BSNAME) at the Mariners’ Polytechnic Colleges Foundation in Baras, Canaman, Camarines Sur in 2018.

“I’m very honored to be the first and only Filipino that will be admitted to Harbin Engineering University and be included in the 2019 HEU Marine Scholarship of China Awarding List. This was made possible because the Philippine Register of Shipping (PRS) assisted me throughout the application process,” she said.

Ramos has expected that the scholarship grant would be a great opportunity not only for her, but also for the shipbuilding industry in the Philippines.

“We will be able to see and learn first-hand their technology specifically Autonomous Ships which is the shipping trend worldwide. I will assure my fellow Filipino Naval Architects that I’ll impart to them all of the knowledge and learning that I would gain in my whole stay at the university. I hope that with this scholarship program, it would further strengthen the bonds between our country and China,” she said.

Julie Zhu, General Manager of Harbin Engineering University Ship Equipment and Technology Co. Ltd. has opened the china marine scholarship program to the PRS this year.

“Beginning next year, we will also extend the scholarship program to engineers of Maritime Industry Authority and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers Inc.,” Zhu said during her recent visit to the Philippines for the Philmarine 2019 Conference.

PRS President Thaddeus Jovellanos recommended Engineer Ramos, a licensed naval architect and marine engineer under the PRS, the first and leading class society in the Philippines.

“She graduated last year at the Mariners’ Polytechnic Colleges Foundation as cum laude, and held the position as National President of Alliance of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Students of the Philippines for two consecutive years. She was also awarded as one of the top 10 outstanding students of our region. Currently, she’s a college instructor at Mariners’ Polytechnic Colleges Foundation teaching structural design, mechanics, strength of materials, hydraulics and higher engineering -related courses,” Jovellanos said.

Ramos said after finishing her master’s degree, she would still pursue a doctorate degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, and eventually return to academe in the Philippines.

“It was always been my dream to do my passion, and at the same time, practice my profession. I want to be included and to work with the highly respected naval architects of PRS. I haven’t chosen yet on what university I wanted to be in, but one thing is for sure, I wanted to teach,” she said.

“Teaching is something that I’ve grown to love. I felt the need for me to help the Philippine Shipbuilding Industry by training young and potential students taking BSNAME to attain the necessary learning that they need to be competent enough in our field. I want to pioneer the creation and opening of curriculum for masters and doctorate degree in naval architecture and ocean engineering in the country for professional advancement of my fellow naval architects,” she added.