Awareness of Deck Faculty on Current Maritime Technology and Industry Trends and Perceived Appropriateness of the Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation Curriculum: A Basis for Curriculum Enhancement

Abstract

The continuous advancement of maritime technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) call for a corresponding enhancement of maritime higher education curricula to meet the evolving demands of the global industry. While other countries have begun integrating these developments into their academic programs, limited studies in the Philippines have examined how the Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation (BSMT) curriculum adapts to these changes. This study sought to assess the awareness of deck faculty on current maritime technologies and industry trends, as well as their perceptions of the appropriateness of the existing BSMT curriculum at PNTC Colleges, with the aim of recommending enhancements. Using a quantitative descriptive-comparative design, data were gathered through a validated survey questionnaire administered to all 30 deck faculty members and analyzed using descriptive statistics and a t-test. Results showed that the faculty were generally aware of AI applications (median = 4) but only moderately aware of MASS (median = 3). The curriculum was perceived as appropriate in content, implementation, and relevance (median = 4), and statistical analysis confirmed no significant difference (p = 0.13 > 0.05) between awareness of emerging technologies and perceptions of curriculum appropriateness. The results showed that while the BSMT curriculum adequately addresses traditional competencies, it has not yet fully integrated technological advancements. Hence, it is recommended to include learning outcomes on these emerging technologies in core courses or other institutional programs to include the competencies on digitalization particularly in AI and MASS, and offer electives focused on maritime innovations to ensure alignment with industry demands and global standards.