A Proposed Five-Year Development Framework for the Lyceum International Maritime Academy SY 2006-2007

ABSTRACT

The study attempted to evaluate the status of Lyceum International Maritime Academy (LIMA) in terms of its strengths and weaknesses from nine institutional areas of evaluation which includes: Vision/Mission, Goals and Objectives, Faculty, Instruction, Physical plant and facilities, Student Personnel services, Social orientation and Community Involvement, Organization and Administration and Linkages.

BS Marine Transportation (1^st – 3^rd year) and all year levels of Marine Engineering students enrolled during S.Y. 2006-2007 (1^st semester). The outcome of the study could be of value primarily to Lyceum International Maritime Academy Administration, Teaching and Non-teaching personnel and most of all, to the students. The findings from nine institutional areas of evaluation would give an insight and information to Lyceum International Maritime Academy regarding the status of the College that will serve as the basis in formulating the five-year development program.

LIMA has obtained a descriptive rating “Very Good” in nine institutional areas of evaluation. It implies that the college has achieved its objective with high quality. With very minimal descriptive rating of “good” in some items of Physical Plant Facilities and Laboratories, Student Services – Libraries  Accounting/Cashier’s Office, OSA, and Linkages.

The school development focuses in Instruction, Research and Community Extension with some detailed activities included in Five – Year Development Framework of Lyceum International Maritime Academy for S.Y. 2007-2008 to S.Y. 2011 -2012 to support these three functions of Higher Education Institution and to attain the institutional objectives of providing a continuous and maximum customer satisfaction.

Human resource is the one of the most important resources in any organization. The Institutions’ instruction function is measured by the personal competence and professional training of its staff both academic and administrative. There are derivative problems such as the proliferations of advanced degree holders with off-tangent specialization in relation to their basic training and work. A concerted effort to develop a comprehensive faculty development program and policy for maritime educators and coupled with the recruitment of highly qualified instructors. 

Since Lyceum International Maritime Academy is ISO certified, its academic and administrative staff must adhere and follow strictly the quality objectives of the Institution. They should be encouraged to participate in the human resource development program so that their maximum potential could be realized to benefit both the individual and the Institution. Other personnel should be given further training to update them with recent trends so that they can perform their tasks efficiently. Trainings must also be evaluated objectively and personnel involved in the training must also be assessed in order to determine its effectiveness. The Lyceum community must recognize the significance of trainings, workshops and seminars and its implication to personal and professional growth of the individual. They must not only live and exist in the community for the benefits and incentives being offered by Lyceum but they must also exert much effort to support the institution and achieve its objectives beyond what is being expected.

LIMA must be relevant to the needs and aspirations of its services area. As a center of academic excellence in Southern Tagalog Region, its curricular offering must complement the regional and national development thrusts. They must reflect at the same time appropriate and positive Filipino values necessary in nation-building, personality development and character formation. Such curricular offerings should aim at producing graduates who are not only equipped with the intellect and skills or expertise but also with values and traits that are necessary in human behavior in the community. Faculty members must integrate values formation in delivering subject matters and make the students realize the importance of possessing the right attitude in the working environment. 

As an academic and a research institution, LIMA is expected not only to train high level manpower but also generate bodies of knowledge useful for development purposes. Research and advance studies for the faculty members must also be given importance. They must realize and appreciate the nature of research writing through pursuing their master’s degree. LIMA must formulate an imperative course of action to really encourage members of the professional education to do research studies. Lyceum Research Center is already offering good benefits for the faculty researchers. Research staff has already formulated and modified the research policy in order to further encourage the faculty members to make researches. And the President is really serious in giving out his best to strengthen the research capability of the institution. LIMA is expected to double or triple the research outputs of the faculty members and staff year after year.

Community extension is one of the components of research. Research studies of the institution must provide and cater for local or national development. As a major function of the LIMA, extension services have to be pursued vigorously. A community outreach service program can be organized along with the research activities of the college. Conduct an Awareness Week Celebration for Community Extension wherein various outreach programs will be given importance and attainment in this event. Conduct various activities on community in order to maintain harmonious relationship with the wider community and its resources and make available its own assets and resources needed. Strengthen the capability of the community extension working committee of LIMA and implement all the plans of the committee objectively.

JAKE M. LAGUADOR, Ed.D.

Lyceum of the Philippines University

Batangas City, Philippines