The Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA) Cadet Program is an unrivalled program of the Association of Shipowners’ Training and Education Project (ASO-ATEP), with the objective of developing the next generation of Filipino maritime professionals through scholarship grants and best maritime education. It is a fully sponsored scholarship program for selected young and qualified Filipinos managed by NTC-M.

In search of the top caliber cadets, NTC-M has partnered with selected maritime institutions, namely: DMMA College of Southern Philippines, Lyceum University of the Philippines – Batangas and University of Cebu-Lapu Lapu and Mandaue. The program covers the three (3) mandatory academic years, plus twelve-month sea time, leading to the Bachelor Degrees in Marine Transportation and Marine Engineering.

The Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA) hopes the Cadet Program may serve as a model or instrument in the promotion of quality education in the Philippines in compliance with the STCW ’95 requirements. As a model, it has introduced significant changes related to the enhancement of the maritime educational system in the Philippines. These changes have contributed to a new outlook and confidence among concerned parties. The program has proved that the Filipino seafarers, given the chance and appropriate resources, could definitely excel and eventually prove that they have the potential to become qualified and competent in the maritime industry.