THE South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI) in Nelson Mandela Bay hosted delegates from the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU) last week, during which great progress was made in finding practical ways of collaboration between the IAMU and SAIMI.
The internationalisation of South Africa’s maritime education and training will take a huge leap forward as closer ties are being formed with universities across the globe.
An MOU between SAIMI and IAMU will be concluded next month at a signing ceremony in Batumi, Georgia. The IAMU is a global network of 68 leading maritime universities providing maritime education and training of seafarers for the global shipping industry.
IAMU Executive Director, Dr Takeshi Nakazawa, who visited South Africa for the first time, described the two-day visit to SAIMI as fruitful. “We have set up a working group that will draft an action plan of collaboration between IAMU and SAIMI. While we have identified many areas of potential partnerships, an exchange between our member universities and South African students, researchers and lecturers will provide valuable opportunities for growth and specialisation,” said Nakazawa.
“It is important for South Africa to strengthen our maritime education and training capabilities by collaborating with universities across the world.” – Mtati
Another IAMU delegate, Batumi State Maritime Academy Head of International Relations, Teona Dzneladze, will head up the working group to identify areas of synergy between IAMU and SAIMI.
“We look forward to enhancing the qualifications of seafarers through internationalisation. The working group will investigate possibilities of student exchange and new research opportunities,” said Dzneladze.
SAIMI CEO Odwa Mtati said that it is important for South Africa not to “operate as an island” and to strengthen our maritime education and training capabilities by collaborating with universities across the world.
SAIMI supports various higher education institutions across South Africa to enhance and grow maritime qualifications and research, including Nelson Mandela University, Cape Peninsula University of Technology and more recently Durban University of Technology.
