Friday, May 09, 2008 Norwegian shipowners offer scholarships, employment
THE Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA) is offering scholarship-to-employment opportunities for 325 maritime students of University of Cebu (UC).
UC Mambaling has already selected 25 students who will be included in the grant.
NSA members will be coming to UC LapuLapu-Mandaue (LM) campus on May 12 to 16 for the final screening and selection of 300 scholars.
The NSA Philippines Cadet Project covers full payment of the student’s tuition, miscellaneous fees, board and lodging, books, meals and training expenses for the first two years.
“On the students’ third year in the program, they will be having their apprenticeship with a monthly allowance of not less than
P25, 000,” said Nelson Opon, UC-NSA dorm master and tactical officer.
After a year, the scholars will come back to class. With their apprenticeship allowance, they can finance their fourth year
educational expenses.
Some NSA member-companies get to select their maritime scholars. But the scholars would not know which companies they belong to until they graduate.
“It’s 100 percent sure that the students will have companies to work for after graduating,” said Opon.
He added that with the NSA scholarship, UC aims to produce skilled cadets “who, when they reach the age of 30, are already ship captains.”
UC is the only university in Cebu selected by NSA to offer such scholarship.
The NSA Philippine Cadet Project is also offered in other maritime schools in the country, namely Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific in Bataan, Davao Merchant Marine Academy College of Southern Philippines, Philippine Merchant Marine Academy in Zambales and John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University in Iloilo and Bacolod City. (Maria Nerissa D. Quiño, UP Mass Comm Intern)
