In 1970, Philippine Ambassador to Japan Roberto S. Benedicto founded the Visayan Maritime Academy.

The school re-opened the next year under the management of Asian Mari-Tech Development Corporation under a 10-year lease-purchase agreement.

In June 1996, the agreement matured and the Asian Mari-Tech Development Corporation acquired the school.

Growth brought about by scholarship programs, international linkages for training and job placement and the move to offer non-maritime courses, caused management to change the school's name from Visayan Maritime Academy to VMA Global College.

It was later renamed to VMA Global College and Training Centers, Incorporated.