NAVIGATING PUBLIC SERVICE IN THE MARITIME CONTEXT: BSMT GRADUATES OF ESTI AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO PUBLIC MARITIME SERVICE
Keywords:
maritime governance, public maritime service, tracer study, marine transportation, graduate employabilityAbstract
Discussions of maritime education usually center on the commercial shipping labor market, yet maritime professionals also sustain the public functions of safety, security, law enforcement, environmental protection, and regulatory compliance that an archipelagic state requires. This tracer study examined graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation (BSMT) program of the Educational Systems Technological Institute (ESTI), Boac, Marinduque, who chose government maritime-related service over the corporate maritime industry. Using a descriptive quantitative design, the researchers administered a structured survey questionnaire to BSMT graduates from Academic Years 2012–2013 to 2021–2022; 190 of the 351 graduates (54.1%) responded. We analyzed the data using frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. Respondents were predominantly male (94.7%), single (66.8%), aged 26–30 years (68.4%), and residing in Region IV (90.5%). The largest groups served in uniformed services such as the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy (31.6%), maritime safety and security enforcement (26.8%), and maritime instruction (22.1%). About half (49.5%) held permanent government maritime-related positions, whereas 45.8% were in temporary, contractual/job order, or casual arrangements. Job security was the only factor rated highly influential in choosing government service (M = 4.28); career growth, work-life balance, compensation, family circumstances, mentors and peers, and local availability of positions were influential (grand M = 4.04). Graduates rated the competencies developed by the program as very helpful overall (grand M = 4.27), led by navigation and seamanship (M = 4.49) and maritime safety and regulations (M = 4.35). The BSMT program supplies personnel to public maritime service, but employment insecurity, gender imbalance, and weak graduate tracking remain issues that institutions and agencies need to address.
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