94 ITHM students complete training aboard ship

A total of 94 second-year students from the Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (ITHM) of Far Eastern University (FEU) gained hands-on industry experience through the 2GO Apprenticeship Training from March 24 to 28 aboard the M/V Masigla.

The immersive program provided students with the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world shipboard environment, exposing them to the fast-paced and highly coordinated nature of hospitality services at sea—an essential preparation for careers in tourism, cruise, and maritime hospitality industries.

The training was conducted in partnership with 2GO Travel, one of the country’s leading maritime transport and logistics providers, known for integrating passenger services with hospitality operations on board its vessels.

Throughout the apprenticeship, students rotated across key departments, including food and beverage, housekeeping, sales, and kitchen operations. This structure allowed participants to experience the full scope of hospitality services and understand how different units work together to deliver seamless guest experiences.

In the food and beverage department, students enhanced their service techniques and guest interaction skills, while in housekeeping they learned proper cleaning procedures and room maintenance standards aligned with industry practices. Their exposure to sales enabled them to gain insights into customer relations and marketing strategies, while their time in the kitchen helped them refine their food preparation and culinary techniques.

The program emphasized experiential learning by placing students in authentic work settings, where they were required to adapt quickly, collaborate with peers, and maintain professional standards.

“The training gave us a clearer understanding of how hospitality operations function in real-life settings,” a participant said. “It challenged us to be more attentive, responsible, and prepared in handling different tasks.”

Another ITHM student highlighted the role of the FEU in preparing them for industry exposure, saying, “[The university] has been very helpful in providing us with the essential training we need for real-world settings. Opportunities like this allow us to experience what our future careers will actually be like, and it makes us more confident in applying what we’ve learned.”

Travel representatives of 2GO emphasized that this rotational experience helps students understand how each department contributes to overall guest satisfaction while developing the technical skills, coordination, and service mindset required in shipboard hospitality environments.

Through partnerships with industry leaders such as 2GO and COMPASS, FEU continues to strengthen its experiential learning initiatives by embedding students in operational environments that mirror actual industry conditions. The apprenticeship reflects the increasing demand for graduates who are not only technically competent but also adaptable to specialized environments such as shipboard hospitality, where service delivery requires precision, coordination, and cultural sensitivity. Programs like this enable students to experience the realities of maritime tourism, which is an area of growing significance in both domestic and international travel.

By institutionalizing partnerships with key players in maritime and hospitality sectors, FEU positions its ITHM programs to remain responsive to niche industry demands, particularly in cruise and onboard service operations. These collaborations ensure that Tamaraws are not only trained in theory but are also exposed to the operational standards, discipline, and service expectations required in highly competitive global hospitality settings.

To know more about the Bachelor of Science in Tourism program, please visit this link: https://www.feu.edu.ph/institute-of-tourism-and-hotel-management/