THESIS TITLE: PMMA CAGAYAN DE ORO CAMPUS - Creating a Collaborative Learning Space in a Military-friendly Environment through Behavioral Disciplinary Architecture
NAME OF THESIS PROPONENT: Carl Martin F. Del Mundo
NAME OF THESIS ADVISER: Ar. Rey S. Gabitan
SCHOOL: PUP MANILA
YEAR OF DEFENSE: 2022
THESIS SYNOPSIS
INTRODUCTION
The Philippines is recognized as the largest supplier of seafarers in the world; however, it remains one of the least performing countries in terms of maritime education. This condition places Filipino seafarers at risk of unemployment as the country continues to fall short of international maritime education standards, as reported by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). In response to this challenge, the proposed Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) Cagayan de Oro Campus is designed to address these deficiencies by integrating advanced maritime technologies that will enable the institution to compete with international maritime schools. Most maritime schools in the country are planned similarly to conventional universities, which limits their capacity to adequately prepare cadets for real shipboard conditions. The proposed PMMA Cagayan de Oro Campus responds to this limitation by incorporating collaborative learning spaces that enhance students’ leadership and collaboration skills while considering the behavioral patterns and daily routines of cadets. Through training environments that closely simulate actual maritime settings, students are expected to become more efficient, adaptable, and effective in shipboard operations. Overall, the proposal aims to respond to the growing challenges in maritime education through well-planned and responsive architectural solutions that support both academic instruction and practical training.
THE PROBLEM
The European Union has continuously warned the Philippines for failing to meet international standards for Maritime Education, posing a serious threat to the employability of Filipino seafarers. In addition, Cagayan de Oro lacks a government-funded maritime institution, as the city currently has only three maritime schools, all of which are privately owned. Across the entire island of Mindanao, there are only 17 maritime schools, with merely three classified as semi-public institutions. This situation limits access to subsidized maritime education and guaranteed employment opportunities for aspiring merchant marines in the region. Furthermore, the existing PMMA campus in San Narciso, Zambales is approximately 1,600 kilometers away from Cagayan de Oro, making it geographically and financially challenging for students from Mindanao to pursue maritime education.
The study seeks to answer the following questions:
1. What are the design strategies needed to create a Collaborative Learning Space in a military-friendly campus?
2. How can architectural spaces influence and control discipline and behavior among users, particularly students?
3. What spaces are necessary to provide users with high-quality education within the academy?
The significance of this development lies in addressing the declining quality of Philippine maritime education by proposing design strategies that help students adapt to the intense onboard environment through collaborative learning spaces that enhance leadership and teamwork.
For the users, the proposed development aims to strengthen teamwork and leadership skills through collaborative learning spaces and contemporary military campus design principles.
For the community, the institution provides an accessible alternative for residents and nearby communities who are financially constrained but aspire to pursue maritime studies.
For the nation, the development contributes to national defense and maritime capability, as graduates are commissioned as ensigns (second lieutenants) and required to join the Philippine Navy Reserve, with career options in the merchant marine, Philippine Navy, or Philippine Coast Guard.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of the project is to establish a maritime institution that complies with international standards for Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) for seafarers while providing high-quality education and training capable of producing competent officers and leaders in the maritime industry. This objective is supported by efficient architectural space planning through the creation of Collaborative Learning Spaces using the Behavioral Disciplinary Architecture approach. Specifically, the project aims to:
• establish an academy that can meet the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) in terms of efficiency and quality of space inside the campus
• incorporate Collaborative Learning Space in the campus planning that will make the learning process of the students more effective
• apply the principles of Behavioral and Disciplinary Architecture to achieve a Collaborative Learning Environment for the students inside the campus
RELEVANCE OF THE RESEARCH TOPIC TO THE PROJECT
Creating a Collaborative Learning Space and applying the Behavioral Disciplinary Architecture approach are highly relevant to the planning and design of the proposed research project, which is a maritime academy. The Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) places strong emphasis on the development of leadership and teamwork among its cadets, making the integration of collaborative learning spaces essential in enhancing students’ learning processes and their ability to cooperate effectively with peers. PMMA cadets are known for their high level of discipline, as they strictly follow structured routines from the time they wake up until the end of the day. According to an article by Safe4Sea, the establishment of routines on board ships is crucial, as the life of a merchant marine largely depends on well-defined daily routines during shipboard operations. This reinforces the relevance of utilizing Behavioral Disciplinary Architecture as a design approach, as it directly supports the formation of discipline, order, and behavioral consistency within the learning environment. Behavioral Disciplinary Architecture influences users by shaping behavior through spatial organization, sensory control, and the regulation of permitted and restricted activities within a space. Through this approach, both students and faculty are subtly guided to act with discipline and professionalism, thereby enhancing the overall learning environment and aligning the architectural design with the core values and training objectives of the PMMA.
CONCLUSION
The proposed PMMA Cagayan de Oro Campus, guided by the research topic Creating a Collaborative Learning Space in a Military-Friendly Environment using the Behavioral Disciplinary Architecture Approach, seeks to provide students from the Visayas and Mindanao with high-quality maritime education and training that will produce competent officers and future leaders in the maritime industry. The relevance of the project is further emphasized by the growing need to strengthen maritime capability and protect national interests, particularly amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea, making the development both timely and responsive to a real national concern. As a government-led initiative, the project integrates energy-saving technologies and sustainable architectural solutions such as solar panel systems, natural ventilation, and abundant green spaces to promote environmental responsibility and operational efficiency. Studies show that collaborative learning spaces are more effective than traditional classroom environments, as they encourage cooperation, pragmatism, and peer interaction—qualities essential for shipboard operations that demand a high level of teamwork. These spaces are achieved through the integration of technology in learning facilities and the reconfiguration of conventional classroom layouts. Moreover, the Behavioral Disciplinary Architecture Approach reinforces PMMA’s core competency of instilling discipline among cadets by positively influencing behavior through architectural interventions such as color psychology, proper adjacency of spaces, and sensory design. Overall, the proposed PMMA Cagayan de Oro Campus addresses critical issues affecting the quality and employability of Filipino seafarers, thereby strengthening the country’s ability to meet global maritime demands and sustain its position as one of the world’s leading suppliers of seafarers.
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