COMPARATIVE STUDY ON PARTNER TRAINING AGENCIES AS PERCEIVED BY BSMT STUDENTS: BASIS FOR ENHANCED TRAINING PROGRAMS

This study examined the perceptions of Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation (BSMT) students regarding their partner training agencies, aiming to identify preferences and concerns to enhance maritime training initiatives. Analyzing responses from 100 BSMT students using the Percentage Formula and Weighted Mean Formula, the study found that most respondents were over 21 years old and predominantly male, with 55% being third-year students. High satisfaction levels, including training and services, facilities and equipment, administration, instruction, and fees, were reported. However, students frequently encountered issues related to these areas, and significant differences in satisfaction between the two training centers were noted, with all indicators showing highly significant differences with a value of lower than 0.001 level. Based on these findings, several recommendations were made to improve the training experience. These include encouraging female participation through targeted recruitment and scholarships and enhancing PST training at Compass Training Center Inc. Both institutions should upgrade their facilities, offer continuous professional development for instructors, streamline administrative processes with digital systems, and maintain financial assistance programs to ensure accessibility. Promoting diversity and inclusion, establishing ongoing monitoring mechanisms for student satisfaction, and fostering collaboration between training centers were also suggested t enhance the overall quality of maritime education. Further research is recommended to assess the effectiveness of these recommendations and further refine training initiatives.