Viewing UC-METC-INC’s partnership on vermi-composting towards environmental management system certification and pedagogy

Abstract

Since its establishment in 1990, being one of the top maritime universities in the Philippines based in Cebu City, the University of Cebu-Maritime Education and Training Center (UC-METC) continues to endeavour to be compliant in almost all of its quality management certification applications and external audit requirements. With the current 18 scholarship sponsoring shipping companies, fostering partnerships with global navigation and shipping companies in environmental protection and conservation means motivating the university in taking active role in complying with the task of quality management systems towards sustainable development.

This unique process of private to private partnerships (PtPP) between the UC-METC and INC NAVIGATION COMPANY PHILIPPINES, Inc was born out of the desire of INC to have the sponsored cadets, under the scholarship program, participate in environmental stewardship such as waste management, specifically vermi-composting technology. This continuing initiative have been packaged in a mutually- beneficial project by trying to achieve the goal of ISO 14001 certification of UC-METC supported by the INC.

In the process, the project allows environmental education pedagogy and advocacy nurtured among its target participants, the sponsored maritime cadets in particular and the rest of the studentry, and the non-teaching and teaching forces of the university multiplied by the outside stakeholders in general.