STI, Carnival Join Forces To Boost Culinary Education

By: Miguel La Torre , August 5, 2024

STI College, in partnership with Carnival Cruise Line (CCL), has opened its doors to welcome the first batch of CCL scholars.

10 incoming Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management (BSHM) freshmen from STI campuses nationwide have been awarded 4-year full scholarships.

"This is a good avenue for me to pursue my dreams of working on a cruise ship," Rosemarie Sencil, one of the grantees of the scholarship said. “STI is an institution that immerses their students in industry-driven practices, so this has a huge impact for students like me,” she added.

Aside from the tuition fee, miscellaneous fees, educational tours, books, and uniforms will also be covered for each student scholarship grantee.

To maintain their scholarships, however, the student must have a General Weighted Average (GWA) of at least 85% in their core and major subjects.

Simultaneous with the scholarship awarding ceremony was the ribbon-cutting event of the new Carnival Fun Lab, a simulation kitchen laboratory, situated at STI Academic Center Pasay-EDSA.

Equipped with state-of-the-art electric kitchen equipment, the Carnival Fun lab will provide training to students who aspire to become professionals in the seas and give them a glimpse of what they are going to use when they come onboard Carnival's growing fleet of 27 ships, with seven more set to join between 2025 and 2033.

“Carnival Cruise Line's partnership with STI creates better opportunities for Filipino shipboard employees who join our ships," said CCL President Christine Duffy, the inauguration's guest of honor. “By providing and expanding the curriculum to schools, Filipino culinary talent are already familiar with the equipment and what happens in the galley when they go on board, which helps chart their course for success," she added.

Since 2022, STI College and CCL have been providing top-notch training and global opportunities to aspiring Filipino seafarers. It started with culinary and aims to expand support to restaurant management and housekeeping training for the institution's BSHM students. These programs will also be aligned with Carnival's standards, encompassing learning content, curriculum, hands-on application, and onboard training.

For the past years, the Philippines has become the world's leading supplier of seafarers, with over 600,000 Filipinos working in the maritime industry.

In 2022, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) deployed over 400,000 seafarers to countries worldwide, and demand for Filipino seafarers continue to grow in the coming years, driven by the growth of the global maritime industry.

Among these in-demand roles are the increasing number of Filipinos providing culinary, housekeeping, guest relations, front office, and other services on cruise ships.

"We recognize that there is a need and demand for Filipino talents in seafaring. We are excited with this joint venture that is anchored in our commitment to real life and industry-driven education," said STI ESG President and Chief Operating Officer Peter K. Fernandez said.

Overall, STI’s collaboration with one of the world’s leading cruise lines is a testament to the institution’s advocacy in providing real-life education. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of promoting such a relevant industry, especially in an archipelagic country that is of the Philippines.