SIRC in the Philippines

An information session about Cardiff University’s Seafarers International Research Center was recently conducted by its Director, Professor Helen Sampson, at the University of the Philippines Dilimann (UP).

Seafarers International Research Centre (SIRC) is part of Cardiff University’s School of Social Sciences that conducts research on seafarers, with particular emphasis on issues of occupational health and safety.

The information session was held on November 18 at UP's Palma Hall in Quezon City, as part of the implementation of the 2015 Memorandum of Understanding between the University of the Philippines and Cardiff University.

Professor Sampson presented on the variety of projects undertaken by SIRC and discussed how seafaring could provide a good case for study from different angles such as vocational education and training in a global industry, migration, health and safety at work, institutional work settings and multinational work forces.

She also used the example of the mainstream award won by her book ‘International Seafarers and Transnationalism in the Twenty-First Century’ to emphasise the way in which this niche area of research can have broad reaching appeal.

The information session was attended by students and faculty from the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy at UP. Dr. Nelson Turgo, a former faculty member of UP and current research associate of SIRC, was also present during the session.

Professor Sampson encouraged the participants to explore fellowship and scholarship opportunities that would enable them to pursue their graduate studies at Cardiff University. She said: “Scholarships are provided by UP for PhD study abroad. I hoped the session would generate some interest in coming to Cardiff amongst potential scholarship applicants...”

“SIRC has an international reputation as the leading centre of excellence in relation to social science research on seafarers and shipping, so I hoped that this would make Cardiff University an attractive option."

"I also wanted to describe the different areas in which the two institutions are likely to share common ground to encourage future joint applications for research and exchange opportunities.”

The interactive session included an open forum that allowed participants to ask questions and raise discussions, some of which included potential research collaborations between SIRC and UP, the impact of SIRC research on international law, and possible research topics on seafarers for Philosophy academics.

Professor Sampson will continue to work on developing the links between Cardiff University and the University of the Philippines with future collaborations and visits.