Philippine E-Journals

Manpower Communication Competency Standards for Marine Engineers: Perspective for Intervention Program Development

Aurora I. Fontanilla

Discipline: Social Science, Maritime Industry

 

Abstract:

The Technological Institute of the Philippines, Quezon City (TIPQC) has incorporated the Speech Class in the subjects English 113 (Grammar) and English 123 (Composition). These two subjects are included in the curriculum of all programs. Based on the report of grades of students from 2004 to 2006, most of the students taking Marine Engineering (MarE) have the lowest grades in the Speech Classes.

 

According to the situationer report on Maritime Manpower in the Philippines from 1999 to 2004, (Maritime Industry Authority, 2005), there was a diminishing comparative advantage of Filipino seafarers in terms of English proficiency, though Filipinos are still considered to be the world‟s largest suppliers of seafarers. This glitch was attributed to the questionable standards of some Maritime Schools and the quality of graduates they produce.

 

The objective of this study is to develop communication competency standards for Marine Engineers. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are universal requirements for a well-rounded seafarer. This standard for Marine Engineers was validated through a simplified modified two-round Delphi Technique to a sample of 17 experts in the shipping industry.

 

This qualitative study sought to identify the important communication skills that must be possessed by a seafarer. The result helped determine perspectives for training program that will give an edge over other Marine Engineering or Marine Transportation graduates.

 

Data analysis resulted on 30 competency standards, which were clustered in different grounds such as interpersonal communication, pronunciation skills, intercultural communication and corporate communication. In the light of this study, intervention programs were conceived to meet the challenges of this global competitive market.