President Naito encouraged the students in his commencement address by saying, “You will be working in an environment that requires nothing less than your full attention. You will occasionally encounter challenges, but I hope that you make use of your NTMA experience to respond appropriately and thus maintain customer trust and ensure safe delivery. Using the NYK Group Values, the 3 I’s (integrity, innovation, intensity), let’s overcome together a world that requires creative responses to dramatic change.”

The day after the ceremony, a dialogue was held between NTMA graduates currently working on NYK Group–operated ships and NYK and TDG management, and a number of insightful opinions were exchanged. NYK was the first Japanese company to establish a maritime academy in the Philippines, and NTMA is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary since opening in 2007. The academy strives to produce high quality seafarers, and has established a student loan program for students who might find it financially challenging to pursue such a degree. In fact, the state examination pass rate for certification as a marine officer is 100 percent. NTMA has been highly evaluated as a maritime school and was one of the first maritime academies to be recognized in 2011 by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism under a new certification program for graduates of overseas maritime academies. A total of 828 students have graduated from NTMA since the academy opened, and most graduates are actively engaged as officers or engineers on NYK-operated ships.