(NEWS) MoU with Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

June

2014

MoU with Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

A delegation from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) visited WMU from 16-17 June. Headed by NMMU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Derrick Swartz, the delegation from South Africa included Prof Andrew Leitch, Dean of Science; Prof Oswald Franks, Dean of Engineering; Prof Patrick Vrancken, Chair - Law of the Sea; Prof Heather Nel, Senior Director, Institutional Planning; and Odwa Mtati, Project Manager, SAIMI.

The focus of the visit was to discuss a variety of ways that NMMU and WMU can collaborate. In addition, the NMMU delegation had the opportunity to meet with the majority of the 23 South African students that are currently studying at WMU and are sponsored by the South African Maritime Safety Authority.

At the conclusion of the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Academic Cooperation was signed. The five-year agreement allows for academic information exchange, executive and professional development courses to be offered by WMU in South Africa, faculty exchanges, and the potential for NMMU to sponsor candidates to the WMU M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs. Further it provides for both parties to collaborate on development of the South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI) recently formed by NMMU. Research and innovation collaboration between the parties will include maritime safety issues, particularly oil and gas development; environment protection and management; effective port and shipping development and management; and aquaculture and other coastal economic development activities.

For more information about NMMU, click here.

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