MoU with MPA Academy, Singapore
On 22 April, WMU signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MPA Academy, the training arm of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), to cooperate on global maritime leadership training and capacity building for the international maritime community.
The MoU was signed by Mr Andrew Tan, MPA Chief Executive, and Prof Neil Bellefontaine, Acting President of WMU. The signing ceremony, held in conjunction with the 10thSingapore Maritime Week 2015, was witnessed by Mrs Josephine Teo, Senior Minister of State for Finance and Transport, and Mr Koji Sekimizu, Secretary General for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Chancellor of WMU.
The MoU supports the efforts of MPA Academy to reposition itself as a centre of excellence in global maritime leadership training. The agreement provides for cooperation between the two partners on leadership development programmes, as well as exchange of faculty members. Under the agreement, MPA Academy will also continue the tradition that began in 2004 of hosting WMU students in Singapore for field study visits as a part of the port management specialisation in the WMU Masters Programme.
Mr Andrew Tan said, “We are delighted that MPA Academy is collaborating with WMU to strengthen our academic offerings. At the same time, we will be able to further contribute to WMU’s work in global maritime leadership development. We look forward to both organisations strengthening the many areas of collaboration in training and capacity building.”
Professor Bellefontaine stated, “It is a pleasure to sign this agreement with the MPA Academy which has been a long-time supporter of WMU through hosting field studies for our students. Being able to visit one of the busiest ports in the world is an incredible opportunity that deepens their knowledge of port operations and administration, and supports the maritime-capacity building mission of WMU. We look forward to working with the MPA Academy in new areas of cooperation made possible through this agreement, including leadership development and faculty exchanges.”
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was established on 2 February 1996, with the mission to develop Singapore as a premier global hub port and international maritime centre (IMC), and to advance and safeguard Singapore's strategic maritime interests. MPA is the driving force behind Singapore's port and maritime development, taking on the roles of Port Authority, Port Regulator, Port Planner, IMC Champion, and National Maritime Representative. MPA partners the industry and other agencies to enhance safety, security and environmental protection in our port waters, facilitate port operations and growth, expand the cluster of maritime ancillary services, and promote maritime R&D and manpower development.
