Students' Competence Based on BSMT Competency Mapping Towards the Development of an Intervention Program

Abstract

Education plays a vital role in graduates' capability to gain, maintain, and remain competitive, considering the increasing global maritime demands (Kabir, 2014; Ramirez, 2001). Consequently, maritime educational institutions continuously improve their approaches to train cadets to be competitive in the labor market and quickly adopt the maritime industry's rapid evolution. Thus, this descriptive investigation aimed at determining the competence level developed among the BSMT students; specifically, to find out the students' competence level developed based on BSMT competency mapping in terms of navigation, cargo handling and stowage, and controlling the operation of the ship and care for persons on board. Ninety-four BSMT students from two maritime schools in Bacolod City participated in this study. Findings revealed that BSMT students were partially competent in the various competencies representing the three functions of a BSMT graduate as per the STCW 2010 Manila Amendments. t-test for independent samples revealed a significant difference in the students' level of competence developed between the two schools. An intervention program was formulated to address the gap.