ABSTRACT
This study aims to profile the graduate students of the Philippine State College of Aeronautics (PhilSCA) to serve as a basis for curriculum enhancement. With the rapidly changing aviation industry and the growing demand for highly skilled professionals, it is essential to assess the alignment of the current graduate program with industry needs and students' academic and professional goals. The research explores various aspects of the graduate students, including their demographic and educational backgrounds, career aspirations, learning preferences, and perceived relevance of their studies to future career opportunities. Data were collected through surveys and interviews with a sample of graduate students enrolled in aviation-related programs.
Findings indicate that most graduate students are between 26 and 30 years old, with a strong background in aeronautical engineering and related fields. The majority of students expressed that the graduate program is highly relevant to their career goals, particularly in aviation management, flight operations, and safety. However, there were notable gaps in soft skills training, exposure to emerging aviation technologies, and the integration of modern industry practices. Students favored traditional lectures for theoretical courses but also preferred online modules and group work for certain subjects. Recommendations for curriculum enhancement include incorporating courses on drones, AI, and aviation business management, increasing hands-on practical experiences, and expanding career services.
The findings of this study provide critical insights into how PhilSCA's graduate curriculum can be improved to better meet the evolving demands of the aviation industry and better support the professional development of students.
Keywords: graduate students, curriculum enhancement, aviation industry
INTRODUCTION
The Philippine State College of Aeronautics came into existence as a result of an extreme necessity to solve a military problem plaguing the 5th Fighter Wing (the premier jet fighter unit of the Philippine Air Force) located in the terminal town of Floridablanca, Pampanga. The nearest town to the community offering the secondary and tertiary levels of education at that time was located in the town of Guagua, Pampanga which involved travel of seventeen (17) kilometers of rough roads from the Air Base. Travel is dangerous then because Basa Air Base is in the midst of Huklandia (NPA). The 5th Fighter Wing is the only unit of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) handling jet fighter aircraft, and its highly skilled personnel cannot be transferred to the other Bases of (PAF) where the government can use them without wasting heavy investment in their training abroad. Request for the transfer and application for discharge among the military personnel were frequent because they and their children were desirous of pursuing higher education, and had to go elsewhere because there was no secondary available education in the vicinity. After repeated requests to the DECS, the invitations to private sectors to establish a tertiary level education failed. The community pooled their resource to comply substantially with the initial requirements of the Bureau of Public Schools and established community schools. The base authorities repaired a dilapidated building into temporary classrooms and extended the use of other facilities including their training aids and apparatus.
On 1977, President Marcos signed Presidential Decree No. 1078 converting Basa Air Base Community College to Philippine Air Force College of Aeronautics with its main campus in Villamor Air Base, Pasay City, Metro Manila. Although with state college status, its charter did not provide for government subsidy as it was considered a non-profit and non-stock educational institution. Aside from Villamor Air Base and Basa Air Base (Florida and Palmayo Campuses), additional campuses were also created in Sangley Air Base, but later closed, Fernando Air Base, and Mactan Air Base and Medellin, Cebu. During this period, it was envisioned by Philippine Air Force authorities to be the Philippine Air Force Academy to solve its problem in the procurement and training of its officer pilots through the merging of the Philippine Air Force Flying School and the Philippine Air Force Regular Officer Procurement Program. President Corazon C. Aquino approved Republic Act No. 7605 converting the Philippine Air Force College of Aeronautics to the Philippine State College of Aeronautics. In 1994, its Board of Trustees approved the creation of its own flight school that will train students for the private pilot and commercial pilot.
In 1997, it acquired its first trainer plane — a Tampico STB9-C aircraft (RP 2200) which the late Senator and Department of Education Secretary, Raul Roco donated from his country-wide development fund, and another Tampico STB9-C aircraft (RP 2204) was purchased for P10 Million from PhilSCA Development Fund on June 3, 1992.
Since aviation was introduced in the Philippines in the middle of the 19th century, most of the schools that are offering aviation and aeronautics education have all but focused only the training of aircraft mechanics, pilots and flight crews. There was no single institution of higher learning which offers post graduate education to develop our executives in the aviation sector. This opportunity to develop executives and professionals to handle our aviation industry was seen by PhilSCA as a great challenge.
Thus, in 2001, under the leadership of Dr. Henrietta B. Sumalbag as President, Dr. Bernard R. Ramirez as Vice President for Academic Affairs, and AP Rowena S. Navera, the Board of Trustees approved of the establishment of Institute of Graduate Studies which initially offers courses in Master in Public Administration (MPA) and Master of Education in Aeronautical Management (MEAM).
Master of Public Administration (MPA) Specializing in Governmental and Airport Administration
Essential conceptual skills and knowledge in public administration focusing on government and airport administration are required. The course exposes the students in various economic, political, socio-cultural and behavior factors affecting public administration not only in the Philippines but also in other countries. Different government policies and practices in the contemporary government and airport administration are avenues for the discussion and analysis using techniques in research and case analysis.
Subject along airport administration and aviation education are offered to afford those in the aeronautical and related courses additional advances studies related to their baccalaureate courses.
Master of Education in Aeronautical Management (MEAM)
This program will augment the basic knowledge of aviation and non-aviation professionals who are planning to work as mentors/instructors in the field of airline management and operation, government regulatory bodies in aviation, military aviation, and general aviation and MRO sectors.
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