WMU holds inauguration of the Class of 2018 MSc in Maritime Affairs
On 18 September, the inauguration of the Class of 2018 MSc in Maritime Affairs, took place in the WMU Sasakawa Auditorium, WMU says. For this new academic year, 113 students from 47 countries are enrolled in the 14-month programme, including the first student from Timor-Leste. In addition, WMU welcomed the first student enrolled on the MPhil programme in International Maritime Law & Ocean Policy taught jointly with the IMO International Maritime Law Institute in Malta.
WMU President, Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, welcomed the Class of 2018, reminding the students of the illustrious maritime leaders who have preceded them at WMU including Mr. Kitack Lim, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization. She emphasized the extremely unique and specialized nature of maritime professions that are key to world trade, and highlighted the diverse nature of WMU with faculty, staff and students from around the world. This makes WMU in effect a mini United Nations, where everyone has an active role to play in achieving the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. “Charting the course for a better world begins with you. You have now joined the global WMU network of individuals bringing capacity back to their home countries to support the global economy. The education you receive at WMU will transform your knowledge and critical thinking. It will instill the joy of learning, and through cultural experiences, nurture the aspiration to give back, and to never forget to give back, enriching your life, and the lives of those around you,” she stated.
The Class of 2018 is benefiting from fellowship donors including the Busan Port Authority which is a new donor. The Nippon Foundation remains the largest fellowship donor with a record number of 30 Sasakawa Fellowship Students. Continued and increased levels of fellowship support are provided by the International Maritime Organization, the Governments of Germany, the Republic of Korea, Norway, and the United Kingdom, ITF Seafarers’ Trust, TK Foundation, Orients Fond, Gard AS, Stena Rederi AB and the World Nuclear Transport Institute. In addition, many students are funded by their employers who recognize the significant added value of educating their staff members at WMU.