Last February 22, ISNTC, as represented by the Multimedia Development Center and the Research and Development Section, joins the UP Open University’s Seminar on Planning and Managing Distance Education. The seminar was part of the Open University’s 15th anniversary celebration.   During the seminar, speakers have introduced the participants in the world of distance education. Professor Nemah Hermosa, UPOU Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, taught the Elements, Principles, and Generations of Distance Education while Professor Patricia Arinto, UPOU Program Chair for Master in Distance Education, discussed about Visioning and Planning for Distance Education and Online Learning. The following topics were also discussed:  

• The Systems Approach to Planning and Managing Distance Education and Online Learning  
• The Course Development Subsystem  
• The Teaching and Learning Subsystem  
• The Student Support Subsystem  
• The Organization and Management Subsystem  

  There were about 20 higher education institutions present during the seminar and ISNTC was the only representative present from the maritime sector.   The next day, February 23, the International Forum on 21st Century Trends in Open and Distance Learning was held. Speakers from various open universities around the globe spoke about the following topics:  

• Pedagogies for a Digital Age (Dr. Jan Herrington, Murdoch University, Australia),
• e-Learning and Transnational Education (Dr. Benito Teehankee, De La Salle University),
• Networks in Open and Distance Learning (Dr. Tian Belawati of Universitas Terbuka, Indonesia).
• Universal Access (Dr. Basheerhamad Shadrach, Telecentre.org Foundation, India), and
• Public Service in Open and Distance Learning (Dr. Grace Javier Alfonso, UP Open University, Philippines).

  ISNTC, being a maritime training center with an e-Learning program for seafarers and with its Multimedia Development Center as the course building unit for Magellan Academy of Shipping and Transport which is an online university for seafarers, sent participants to these seminars for updates on technology, trends, and the proper planning and managing of distance education particularly e-learning.  Capt. Antonio Palenzuela, Capt. Rey Evangelista, 2/M Roger Cubid, Mr. RJ Navarro, and Mr. MJ Inocentes attended the first day seminar while Mr. Navarro and 2/M Cubid stayed for the forum on the second day.