The Asian Institute of Maritime Studies (AIMS) is a Maritime Higher Education Institution (MHEI) in Pasay, Philippines that provides highly technical learning in maritime education. It is a specialized maritime learning and research institution and considered one of the top performing maritime schools in the Philippines consistently producing top-notchers in board examinations. It was founded in 1993 by Captain Wilijado P. Abuid along with other maritime leaders to provide world-class maritime education to the Filipino youth.

AIMS is a non-stock, non-profit educational institution comprising the School of Merchant Marine (SMM), School of Maritime Business (SMB), School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA), School of Heritage Education (SHE), and the School of Graduate Studies (SGS). The five schools have different field of study but as a whole it forms a coherent structure which supports the development of the Philippine maritime industry.

History The early 1990's witnessed the golden age of the Philippine maritime manpower industry. By then, the country had earned a reputation for being the primary source of seamen for the global shipping and transport market. The newly-established Commission on Higher Education (CHED), however, was concerned that there weren’t enough maritime Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the National Capital Region (NCR) that could help the country in meeting requirements to become the Manning Capital of the World. Then came the vision of a simple man with grand dreams – Captain Wilijado P. Abuid to provide world-class maritime education to the Filipino youth. It was February 22, 1993 when he embarked on a journey to build the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies (AIMS).

Birth pains and triumphs

AIMS opened its doors to aspiring seafarers on August 16, 1993, at a rented building along Pasay City Roxas Boulevard, a strategic bay front location. It didn’t take long until the school had more than 300 students, enough to fill up AIMS’ initial program offerings for the Basic Merchant Marine Course (BMMC), Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation (BSMT), BS Marine Engineering (BSMarE), and BS Customs Administration (BSCA). The pioneering student body strove to excel, aided by the faculty and employees who were one of the school’s founders in providing quality education and a profession-driven culture. AIMS established a cadetship training program with the inclusion of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program in its curriculum. The 257th NROTC Unit was used to hone the qualities of citizenship, character, and leadership in the school’s students, and consequently helped build AIMS’ reputation of instilling personal discipline in its cadets. The Unit consistently garnered awards, including first-place honors at the Annual General Tactical Inspection ceremonies from 1999 to 2004, and top citations at Summer Shipboard Training sessions for cluster schools with a Naval ROTC program. Just as AIMS was sailing steadily through the current of maritime education, another wave of challenges pounded its hulls. It had no ship to provide actual training facilities to its students, a sudden requirement implemented by CHED for maritime schools to be certified. In 1995, the school’s management made the bold move to purchase a training ship. M/V AIMS was launched that same year, a massive island of steel anchored on Manila Bay just within sight of the school. The costly purchase sparked the first wave of major investments made by AIMS and marked the beginning of the profession-driven culture in the institution. 

Baptism of fire

AIMS sailed on steadily under its new president, Arlene. Enrollees for its maritime programs progressively increased and it slowly gained a reputation for being an excellent maritime institution in Manila. Then came the trials. AIMS’ two-year-old training ship was the first casualty. The school’s prized ship was docked in the bay waters near the school, looming and unmissable. M/V AIMS, a symbol of Capt. Abuid’s vision and hard work burnt down in September 1997. Ten months after the fire scorched their first major investment, a second tragedy struck - the AIMS Sea Tower caught fire. The flames engulfed the entire fourth floor of the Sea Tower and everything it contained, including the newly purchased Live Bridge Simulator. The management, embattled but not defeated, rallied together to keep the school going. Professors taught in movable, makeshift classrooms. They taught in the hallways. They taught in the rain, under leaking canvas roofs, clad in raincoats, and with umbrellas in hand. In between classes, the staff and teachers would have to empty and dry the areas where rainwater had collected in sections. The fires prompted the school administrators to stand firm and resolute in implementing safety standards in the school. How AIMS thrives in the face of challenges is a reflection of how its founder lived his life. The “AIMS Family” was born then, a team united by the firm resolve to go beyond expectation. What the school couldn’t provide in terms of facilities, they made up for by providing and pursuing academic excellence. The tragedies that hit the school were lessons served the hard way, a burning message to make a fortress out of the foundations that Capt. Abuid had built.

Full speed ahead towards success

As with all storms, clouds would eventually break to let the sun shine through. The series of fiery disasters in 1997 only made AIMS stronger. It rebuilt the Sea Tower, it also established its College of Business along Arnaiz Ave. and continuously expanded its campus along Roxas Boulevard. The AIMS campus along Roxas Boulevard looks out to a view of the sea. Its construction commenced at a time when the local maritime industry was experiencing a recession. Investments were then directed to the development of its educational and training programs. In 1998, AIMS became the first maritime school in the Philippines to implement a complete Quality Management System (QMS) in all its programs. To reinforce these standards, the school also revealed a new slogan: Achievement, Integrity, Mastery, and Service. The QMS was also an essential step in AIMS’ pursuit of national and global accreditation. CHED included the school in its “White List” soon after the school executed its new operational system, and a year later, the school gained an ISO 9002: 1994 accreditation from the American Bureau of Shipping. These accreditations were critical to the eventual expansion of the school’s programs over the next few years when it started offering business courses and master’s programs. The establishment of the College of Business ushered in Bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and Computer Science in addition to the Customs Administration program that AIMS already offered. Seeking to provide the industry with well-rounded leaders and not just crew members, AIMS introduced the country’s first master’s program in Maritime Administration. Presently, only two other maritime schools in the Philippines offer a Master’s Degree in Maritime Administration. 

Inspired by the light

By 2005, the Sea Tower had been completely rebuilt. It was now a six-story, lighthouse-style structure on the school’s main grounds. It was also during this period that AIMS proudly announced itself as the Home of Maritime Knowledge Exchange. A decade later, the 12-storey AIMS Tower was completed. In 2019 AIMS established its School of Heritage Education (SHE). The objective is to create a holistic, multiple-intelligence approach to learning and graduates that are attuned to their inner selves, happy, productive, and concerned citizens. This is part of the vision of AIMS to institutionalize heritage education and integrate it into campus life.

Riding the waves of time

In 2010, cognizant of the international trend in education, AIMS invested in a Learning Management System (LMS) that would allow students to pursue their studies online. These investments proved worthy amid the transition towards digital learning because of the pandemic. The implementation of these programs, as well as the improvement of the school’s infrastructure, the inclusion of arts and culture into the curriculum, the addition of foreigners into the student body, and the pursuance of online education, are all geared towards one goal: global distinction.

30 years of wisdom towards a single vision

Last 2021, AIMS enhanced its vision to become “The Home of Maritime, Engineering, and Heritage Knowledge Exchange” not only in the Philippines but globally. When AIMS reached its 30th anniversary in February 2024, a recollection of its three-decade story occurred together with a stronger commitment to its widened vision. With the theme “Pearls of Wisdom,” the insights obtained over the past 30 years became a foundation to commit not only to student services but also to maritime nation-building with a global orientation.

Campus The maritime institution lies in the vicinity of Roxas Boulevard, A. Arnaiz Avenue (also known as Libertad Street), Roberts Street, and F.B. Harrison Street in Pasay. Its campus is composed of the AIMS Tower, Lighthouse Bldg., SEA Building (formerly CB Building), June Five Building, Annex and the M/V Buffalo Laboratory Building, Capt. Wilijado P. Abuid Foundation Building (WPA Foundation Building), and the AIMS Multi-purpose Court.

The AIMS Tower

The AIMS Tower is the main building of AIMS, and it is a 12-story structure that houses administrative offices, library services, data center, classroom facilities, and the San Vincente Ferrer chapel. It also features the JOA Auditorium, which can accommodate up to a thousand guests. Additionally, the building includes case rooms and various offices dedicated to student services. The highlight of this building is its views: sunset over Manila Bay at the front and the Makati skyline at the back.

Lighthouse Building The Lighthouse Building is a six-story facility that serves as the primary laboratory and learning hub of AIMS. It features a training ship on Deck 1, state-of-the-art Bridge and Engine Simulators on Decks 2 and 3, drafting facilities and a hydraulic room for Naval Architecture programs on Deck 4, a maritime library on Deck 5, and the AIMS Museo Maritimo on Deck 6. A standout feature of the building is its lighthouse-inspired architecture, which has become a symbol of AIMS.

SEA Building

The School of Engineering and Architecture Building (formerly CB Building) is a four-story structure dedicated to AIMS' engineering and architecture programs. It also serves as a residence for cadets enrolled in the Merchant Marine Cadetship Program (MMCP). The ground floor of the building includes bank services.

June Five Building

The June Five Building is a five-story structure that serves as the home for the Hotel and Restaurant Management Function Room and other hospitality-related programs at AIMS. It also houses the school cafeteria and a bookstore offering school merchandise. Annex and the M/V Buffalo Laboratory Building

The Annex is an extension complex of AIMS that includes the two-story M/V Buffalo Laboratory Building, the AIMS Cooperative and Barber Shop, admissions office, and parking facilities. It also houses the Integrated School of Science, the partner Senior High School of AIMS.

Captain Wilijado P. Abuid Foundation Building

The WPA Foundation Building is a two-story structure connected to the Annex. It serves as the dormitory for non-MMCP cadets. Additionally, the building houses the WPA Foundation offices, which support various programs and initiatives within the AIMS community.

AIMS Multi-purpose Court