Seafarers urged to mull career in naval architecture

Seafarers urged to mull career in naval architecture
Peter Tabingo January 27, 2025 https://malaya.com.ph/news/national-news/seafarers-urged-to-mull-career-...

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is hoping to drum up greater interest among aspiring Filipino seafarers to consider a career in naval architectur noting that there is an unmet demand for such professionals in the maritime industry.

Citing the Preliminary Jobs and Labor Market Forecast 2022-2025 Report that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) released recently, the CHED said maritime schools in the Philippines can take advantage of this opportunity to produce skilled Filipino seafarers for such careers.

“As significant contributors to the shipbuilding and ship repair industries, naval architects are integral to the Philippine economy. However, the demand for professionals in this field remains unmet due to low enrollment in the BSNAME program and limited awareness of career opportunities in naval architecture,” the commission said.

With that in mind, the CHED Office of Programs and Standards Development (OPSD) is organizing a forum bannered: “What is Your NAME? – A Forum on the Bachelor of Science in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Program in the Philippines” to gather stakeholders including higher education institutions, students, and shipbuilding/ship repair industry players.

The OPSD said interested participants can take part via video conference on Zoom on January 31.

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) released the 26-page Maritime Industry Development Plan in 2028. And, while Philippine maritime schools have been producing thousands of seagoing Filipinos through their merchant marine programs, the naval architecture and maritime engineering programs have been lagging.

As of 2022, the paper revealed that there are only seven maritime higher education institutions (MHEIs) offering a bachelor’s degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (BS NAME).

Figures from the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) showed only 273 Filipino graduates of MHEIs passed the NAME licensure examination between 2017 to 2022 out of 584 who took the tests during that period.

There were 51 passers in 2017, 52 in 2018, and 89 in 2019 before the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic forced a halt in the process. In 2021 the number plunged sharply with only 33 making the cut and 2022 showing only a small improvement with 48 passers.

Over the same five-year period, PRC data showed an average passing rate of only 46 percent each year.

“This initiative aims to address these challenges by showcasing the BSNAME program and highlighting its importance in developing a workforce that meets industry needs. The event will serve as a platform for higher education institutions (HEIs) to promote their programs, attract prospective students, and contribute to the development of the shipbuilding and ship repair industries in the Philippines,” the CHED said.