𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒: 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐒 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐂𝐌𝐁𝐓

April 7, 2026

by DOST-PSTC-Oriental Mindoro

𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻, 𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗼 | 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟬𝟲, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 — The Southwestern College of Maritime Business and Technology Inc. (SCMBT) has strengthened its academic resources by requesting the assistance of DOST-Oriental Mindoro for the installation of STARBOOKS in its library. The partnership was formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing, followed by installation, orientation, and demonstration activities attended by Grade 11 students, teachers, the high school principal, and the school owner.

STARBOOKS, or Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated KioskS, is the Philippines’ first digital science library-in-a-box. It provides offline access to thousands of science and technology resources, addressing the challenge of limited research materials for students and educators. For SCMBT, a maritime and technical institution, STARBOOKS bridges the gap between maritime training and scientific innovation, ensuring learners have the tools to connect classroom knowledge with real-world applications.

During the event, school principal Mr. Zaldy Andal underscored that in today’s generation, “one of the greatest currencies is access to resources.” He highlighted how STARBOOKS empowers students by providing a vast collection of reliable knowledge that enriches and strengthens their learning. Meanwhile, the school’s President and CEO, Mr. Armando S. Fernandez,added that the initiative is especially timely in an era dominated by AI tools and QR codes, where information is instant but not always authentic. STARBOOKS ensures that learners can engage with curated, science-based materials that preserve academic integrity and foster deeper understanding.

With STARBOOKS now part of SCMBT’s library, students and teachers are better positioned to thrive in a knowledge-driven economy. The integration of science and technology into maritime education ensures that graduates are globally competitive, resilient, and equipped with both technical skills and scientific expertise. This partnership underscores how maritime education and science can sail together toward innovation, service, and excellence for the next generation.

#STARBOOKS #DOSTOrMin #DOSTMIMAROPA #OneDOST4U #SolutionsOpportunitiesForAll #AghamNaRamdam