Mr. Paterno Santillan, Instructor and In-charge of the Accreditation Task Force of the College of Maritime Studies, is one of the five Filipinos who are currently in Busan, Republic of Korea for the 2025 ODA Train The Trainer (TTT) Program for Maritime Education Training (MET) Instructors hosted by Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology (KIMFT), from August 3 – October 1, 2025.

The TTT program, which was first carried out by the Republic of Korea last year, aims to serve as a venue to enhance and capacitate the instructors and professors from various maritime academies and universities, and enhance the quality of MET system.

This year, the program includes 19 participants from six countries: Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Mexico, and Peru.

UA’s participation is an acknowledgement of the importance of continuous training in order to improve and align our level of maritime education with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) standards and the evolving needs of the maritime industry.