22 SA Masters and Doctoral level students to study at World Maritime University, Sweden from September 2013
Deputy Transport Minister, Sindisiwe Chikunga in Port Elizabeth Wednesday
Renewed focus on the comprehensive development of South Africa’s maritime economy has received yet another boost with the establishment of an education and training cooperation agreement between the country and the World Maritime University – an initiative that will see no less than 20 of the country’s young bright minds pursuing high level maritime studies in Sweden beginning this year.
The agreement with the Sweden based university and its parent, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) – a United Nations organisation – and due for ratification next month, was announced by deputy Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga in Port Elizabeth earlier today
Chikunga said in terms of the agreement South Africa would for the first time send about two dozens or so students to World Maritime University each year to pursue high level maritime studies as part of a government effort to enhance and expand development of skills, human capital and institutional capacity within the country’s maritime space.
FIRST GROUP OFF TO SWEDEN IN SEPTEMBER
The first batch of students, about 20 masters level as well as two doctoral level students will depart for World Maritime University in Malmö in September 2013.
Addressing a predominantly academic audience including World Maritime University president Professor Björn Kjerfve, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University vice Chancellor, Prof Derrick Swartz, SA Maritime Safety Authority CEO, Tsietsi Mokhele and others,Chikunga said the decision to participate in the training initiative focused specifically on the country’s maritime economy was premised on a fact that “we need all the capacity we can get to develop the skills we so require for this (maritime) industry.”
She revealed also that as part of the bigger plan, SAMSA had also been mandated to establish a comprehensive maritime institute for the country to expand education and skills development in the sector.
According to Chikunga, the country’s maritime industry’ untapped economic potential presented an opportunity that would provide a new economic development curve for the country.
“South Africa by definition is a maritime nation, as it is surrounded by three oceans; the Indian ocean to the east, the Southern Ocean to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the west – with an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles. Over 95% of South African trade is carried using maritime transportation and the trade itself makes up 70% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product).
She said the government’s dream was to begin to positively explore the country’s maritime economy to transform the country people’s lives as well as those of the African continent.
“Key to this ability is the skills capacity as well as capacity to generate such skills. This initiative today makes us quite ecstatic that we are well underway (to) creating an enabling environment for the success of our country and for the rest of the continent.”
WORLD MARITIME UNIVERSITY HAPPY TO WORK WITH SOUTH AFRICA
Prof Kjerfe who is currently in the country to explore and endorse maritime skills and academics programs undertaken by SAMSA, as well as engage with other stakeholders and key role players, said he welcomed the opportunity to work closely with South Africa in the initiative.
At Wednesday’s event at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University for the announcement of a maritime industry international education initiative were (From Left) NMMU’s Prof Patrick Vrancken, SAMSA CEO Tsietsi Mokhele, deputy Transport Minister, Sindisiwe Chikunga and NMMU vice Rector Prof Derrick Swartz.
“The mission of the World Maritime University is to help build maritime capacity through postgraduate education and research globally. To date only five South Africa students have graduated from WMU, the smallest number of students from the BRICS countries, and far less than the 698 from China and 141 from Nigeria.
“In WMU entering into a partnership with SAMSA, it is my expectation to see more South African students study at the WMU in Sweden in years to come,” he said.
Prof Swartz (vice Chancellor: NMMU) meanwhile, described the initiative as a critical step forward in the development and enhancement of maritime economy related studies in the country, and was pleased that the NMMU was also central to the initiative as a partner.
He said the NMMU, already a leader among the country’s universities in maritime related studies – currently offering a post graduate diploma – was both well positioned geographically as well as with the requisite capacity to contribute to expansion of maritime economy education.
Mokhele (CEO: SAMSA) described the initiative as “a small step that hopefully will turn into a giant step for South Africa’s maritime economy.”
Describing the new partnership with WMU as an interim measure, he said the ultimate goal in terms of the vision of SAMSA, was to have South Africa’s universities offering locally a graduate maritime degree.
End
See also:
Still to come:
NMMU’s Prof Patrick HG Vranken speaks of his new appointment as head of the university’s new Chair in Law of the Sea and Development in Africa.
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