A group of 22 South African students leave for Sweden in about four months time to pursue higher education studies at the World Maritime University and among these, will be Thembani Manyefane of East London – the only Eastern Cape student this year who made it in the final group.
Thembani Manyefane
Manyefane, a former high school teacher and now currently an outreach officer at the East London Museum for the last seven years will be the first of a group of masters and doctoral level students dispatched to Malmö annually to go and receive high level maritime education at the international institution – an initiative by the South African government intended to boost both education as well research and development in the country’s maritime economic sector.
A Memorandum of Understanding between South Africa and World Maritime University is expected to be finalized this month, said deputy Transport Minister, Sindisiwe Chikunga in Port Elizabeth last month.
The World Maritime University is a postgraduate maritime university founded by a United Nations agency, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1983.
According to its president Professor Björn Kjerfve while on a visit to Port Elizabeth recently, the education institution operates on the basis of a Charter adopted by the IMO Assembly, and is accountable to the IMO Secretary-General, Council and Assembly, and to an international Board of Governors composed of representatives of some 50 different governmental, industry, labour and educational bodies.
That is the education environment in which Eastern Cape’s maritime sector ‘whiz kid’ Manyefane, along with 21 others – including two doctoral level students – will pursue his further higher education.
In addition to teaching qualifications, Manyefane also holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Maritime Studies cum laude from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth. In Sweden, he will pursue a master’s level degree in the same field.
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aiContact 
I am Barr Chisom Nyeche from Rivers State Nigeria, I am interested in Maritime law and it’s industries and I want to join your group and want you to help me with useful information on what to do and where to belong to enable me achieve my dream of becoming a Maritime specialist so I will contribute immensely to the growth and development of Maritime sector in my Country and the world at large, having come from the Niger Delta religion of Nigeria where we have Sea ports n Oil industries. Currently, I will be undergoing a post graduate course in International Commercial and Maritime Law in University of Swansea Wales in Uk this September 2013. Many thanks
Hello Barr Chisom Nyeche
Thanks for writing in and sharing your interests in maritime economy studies. You raise two issues: an interest to join a group, as well as info on how to go about pursuing your dreams of becoming a maritime specialist.
On the former; I am not sure what group you refer to but I assume you are talking about the group of students headed for the World Maritime University. If this be the case, you are most likely get your break if you apply directly to the Sweden based university as otherwise, the group of South Africans mentioned in the story are government sponsored and you would therefore not qualify as a non South African.
With reference to the latter issue (seeking information), South Africa has a few institutions that are focused partially or fully on maritime economy issues inclusive of education; either higher education institutions such as the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University or the South African Maritime Safety Authority whose mandate, as the name suggests; is far much broader.
The point is, I am not sure how best I can assist you beyond referring you to these institutions. If there is any more information you may wish for, please indicate.
Cheers