President Reports to the IMO Assembly
On 1 December, WMU President, Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, addressed the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Assembly to report on the activities of the University in the biennium. In 2015, IMO Assembly has taken place from 23 November to 2 December. All 171 Member States and three Associate Members are entitled to attend the Assembly.
In her remarks, President Doumbia-Henry highlighted the accomplishments of the University during the biennium including continued strong enrolment in the Master’s programme offered in Malmö as well as at the Dalian and Shanghai campuses in China. The President noted that with the recent graduation of the Class of 2015, there are now 4,116 WMU alumni from 166 countries, “In addition to the academic qualifications they have acquired, the camaraderie and friendships they have built will stand them in very good stead when they return to their respective countries because they now belong to the network of WMU alumni, a truly powerful and knowledgeable resource for the maritime sector.”
The President also noted the unconditional Certificates of Accreditation of the WMU Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy programmes in Maritime Affairs that were awarded by the Central Evaluation and Accreditation Agency of Hanover (ZEvA) in the spring of 2015. Beyond the degree programmes, President Doumbia-Henry highlighted the ongoing success of the distance learning postgraduate diploma (PgDip) in Marine Insurance and reported that three additional distance learning PgDips are now offered by the University including Maritime Energy, Executive Maritime Management, and International Maritime Law.
President Doumbia-Henry noted that 12 new research projects were secured by WMU in 2014 and further highlighted the service of WMU to the international maritime community with conferences hosted during the biennium including Maritime Women: Global Leadership, the International Maritime Education and Training Symposium, and the International Conference on Safe and Sustainable Shipping in a Changing Arctic Environment. The President also announced the University’s plans to offer a symposium on Migration by Sea in May of 2016.
Regarding the University’s dependency on a small number of donors, President Doumbia-Henry reported the University is increasing fundraising efforts as well as introducing new Professional Development Courses and outreach programmes. In closing, the President expressed appreciation to the Government of Sweden and the City of Malmö for their continued support, and to The Nippon Foundation, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation, and all other donors who support the University, “their continued support is indispensable to the University’s existence and to the ongoing provision of its capacity-building training services to the benefit of the global maritime community.”
Further reporting on WMU in the biennium, IMO Secretary-General and WMU Chancellor, Mr. Koji Sekimizu, noted that “thirty-four years after the Assembly took the decision to establish the University, the influence of WMU is immense. The University is a world class institution far exceeding its founders’ vision. Furthermore, WMU plays a vital role in pursuing IMO's capacity-building aims. Put quite simply, WMU graduates are the maritime leaders of tomorrow.”
Mr. Sekimizu continued by thanking the City of Malmö for their generosity in providing outstanding new premises to WMU, and to Dr. Yohei Sasakawa, President of The Nippon Foundation, for their willingness to establish a US$100 million endowment fund to support expansive and innovative activities at the University, together with a ten-year fellowship programme.
Mr. Sekimizu reported that a solid framework has been designed to secure a sustainable financial base for WMU through the Study on the Financial Sustainability of the University that redefines the University's core mission as a global institution for educating and training future maritime leaders of developing countries, diversifies WMU's activities as a necessary mechanism towards ensuring financial sustainability, establishes a new system of collaboration between WMU and other maritime universities across the regions, and expands the University's core mission by incorporating into its curriculum the Sustainable Development Goals for the ocean and the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. Mr. Sekimizu noted, “the Study on the Financial Sustainability provides a ‘road-map’ for the University's future. It is now incumbent upon the various stakeholders to ensure that the resources and capacities required to implement those eight strategies are made available.”
Further to ensuring a sustainable future for the University, Mr. Sekimizu reported that the WMU Board of Governors approved establishment of an Endowment Fund to which donations have already been secured, “I urge the IMO membership and the shipping industry stakeholders to contribute in any way they can,” stated Mr. Sekimizu.
Last week, the Assembly confirmed the election of the next IMO Secretary-General, Mr. Kitack Lim on 26 November. Mr. Lim is an alumnus of WMU (M.Sc. 1991 MSA(N)) and the first Chancellor and first IMO Secretary General, to hold an MSc degree from the University. The Assembly also elected its new 40-member Council for the 2016-17 biennium.
