MOL Upgrades Seafarer Education in the Philippines, 21st March 2012

News Release Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (Head Office) March 24, 2012

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MOL Upgrades Seafarer Education in the
Philippines
-Graduation ceremony held for 1st batch in new
‘3rd Year’ Program-
 
Tokyo—Mitsui O.S.K. Lines,
Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) today announced the graduation of 84 students
in the first batch of its “Third Year Program” at Magsaysay Institute of
Shipping (MIS*1), MOL’s training center in the Philippines. On hand
for the graduation ceremony were Dr. Sinforoso M. Birung, Director IV, Office of
Programs and Standards from the Philippines Commission on Higher Education,
Doris Magsaysay Ho, President of Magsaysay Maritime Corporation, MOL Senior
Managing Executive Officer Soichi Hiratsuka, and others.
 
MOL
introduced the Third Year Program, targeting new Filipino seafarers from among
third-year students at seven partner maritime schools in the Philippines, with
the goal of developing seafarers who will uphold strict safety standards in
vessel operation. The company has provided education and training at MIS since
June 2011.
 
MOL
Senior Managing Executive Officer Hiratsuka addressed the ceremony, saying “Safe
operation is our social responsibility as an ocean shipping company, and the
foundation of our customers’ trust. Building upon your experience at MIS, I hope
you will become worthy members of MOL through hands-on instruction aboard MOL’s
training ship Spirit of MOL and its operated vessels. I hope you will
grow as personnel who represent the future of ocean shipping.” The students left
MIS with high hopes for the future. 
 
The
program was accredited as equivalent to university-level education under the
Academe-Industry Linkage Program(*2) promoted by the Philippine
government. Selected students will be educated and trained at the MOL training
institute and on the training ship for the second half of a four-year university
curriculum. After finishing their studies at MIS, they will be recruited after
training aboard the Spirit of MOL and other MOL-operated vessels for 12
months. 
 
*1.    Magsaysay Institute of Shipping
(MIS):
MIS was jointly established by MOL and Magsaysay Maritime Corporation
in 1993. The institute provides thorough safety education, various types of
practical training, and rule-based training in preparation for serving aboard
MOL-operated vessels. Since 2007, MIS has contributed the development and
enhancement of maritime education programs, improving students' skills through
supplementary lessons, technical support to instructors, and upgrading of
maritime curriculum, in collaboration with designated maritime schools in the
Philippines.
*2.    Academe-Industry Linkage
Program:
A program to help schools upgrade the education of students and
enhance employment opportunities for top-quality students, based on cooperation
between academia and industry.
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