STI College and Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) announced a groundbreaking partnership to empower Filipino culinary professionals through education and training. 

This collaboration marks a pivotal step in nurturing future Filipino seafarers to meet the industry standards and the increasing global demand for culinary talent working on board cruise ships.

“We recognize the growing need and demand for Filipino talents in seafaring, and we are excited with this joint venture that is anchored in our commitment to real-life and industry-led education,” said STI Education Services Group (STI ESG) president and COO Peter K. Fernandez in a press statement.

Making real-life education accessible 

A cornerstone of this partnership is establishing a scholarship program for hospitality management students from STI campuses nationwide. The CCL scholars will receive full scholarships covering tuition, miscellaneous fees, educational tours, books, and uniforms. 

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

In addition to the scholarship program, the two institutions jointly inaugurated the Carnival Fun Lab, a state-of-the-art simulation kitchen laboratory with industry-standard equipment. 

The Carnival Fun Lab is a testament to the commitment of both institutions to provide students with world-class training and preparation for successful careers on all 27 Carnival ships (and growing with seven ships joining the fleet between 2025 and 2033), which sail primarily in North America. This innovative facility will provide culinary students with hands-on experience and a realistic glimpse into the demands of working on a cruise ship.

“Carnival Cruise Line’s partnership with STI creates better opportunities for Filipino shipboard employees who join our ships,” said CCL president Christine Duffy. “By providing and expanding 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.”

The broader impact 

For many years, the Philippines has been the world's leading supplier of seafarers for various cruise lines and ships. In 2022, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) deployed over 400,000 seafarers worldwide, and the demand for Filipino shipboard workers continues to grow, driven by the expansion 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.

The partnership between STI College and Carnival Cruise Line started with culinary and plans to expand the program to support restaurant management and housekeeping training for STI’s hospitality management students. These future programs will also be aligned with Carnival’s standards, encompassing learning content, curriculum, hands-on application, and onboard training.