The Arab Academy for Science Technology and Maritime Transport in Sharjah (AASTS) has launched a comprehensive programme to motivate its first-batch students to be an exceptional vanguard in academic and scientific achievements, and role models for excellence in research and development. This will promote AASTS’s attractiveness to new students and strengthen its position as a distinct educational option that prepares graduates to join the maritime sector and occupy the best jobs and career opportunities. The move supports the Academy’s position as the best Arab maritime educational option and the first regional choice for students. It is also in response to the unprecedented turnout of students who showed interest to join the Academy during the International Education Show held in Sharjah last month.

This plan was launched after a discussion session between faculty members and students that was attended by Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghaffar Ismail Faraj, President of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport. The session discussed the importance of enhancing the large economic potential and capabilities of the Arab maritime sector through the Academy’s strategic role. AASTS is a key educational institutions that supplies the sector with professional who are qualified and trained according to the highest academic and practical standards.

Dr. Faraj said, “We were impressed by the exceptional turnout of students who visited our stand at the International Education Show in Sharjah last month and showed interest to join the Academy. Despite the fact that the Sharjah branch was launched less than a year ago, the Academy’s long-standing reputation and the status of the maritime sector in the hearts of Emiratis, have created great interest among students to consider the Academy as a preferred option for their higher education.”

He added, “The presence of the Academy’s students in their maritime uniforms at our stand at the show was outstanding. They were role models for students looking for academic education that provides great and meaningful opportunities for work. That’s why, we decided, along with the administrative staff and faculty members, to focus more on those students who are our ambassadors in the educational field, to achieve the highest levels of excellence while benefitting from AASTS’s educational capabilities. The facility was built according to the highest levels of professional, scientific and technical standards. Students benefit from the advanced study programmes prepared by specialists in maritime curricula. The Academy’s facilities meet all students’ needs; making the building an encouraging and motivating environment for them to study and spend their time inside them.”

Dr. Hisham Afifi, Advisor to the President of the Academy and in charge of Khorfakkan’s branch, said, “The Arab Academy for Science Technology and Maritime Transport in Sharjah provides unlimited opportunities for students looking for educational services that ensure they find jobs in specialisations needed in the market after their graduation and that they get the highest salaries compared to other disciplines. On the other hand, the Academy’s advisory and professional training services are untapped treasures for companies looking to develop their staff to keep pace with the rapid developments in the maritime sector. We provide great opportunities to build a sustainable Arab maritime economy by promoting and marketing the Academy’s services among all segments of society.”

Dr. Afifi added, “We were thrilled by the number of female students who registered to enrol in the Academy during the International Education Show in Sharjah. This gives us great hope that we can contribute to strengthening the UAE’s leadership in the maritime sector, especially that this industry is 98% dominated by men worldwide. However, female students in the UAE have proven that they are keen to contributing to the vital sectors of the future economy and prepare for the next 50 years alongside men.”

Highly trained maritime professionals

Dr. Ahmed Youssef, Associate Dean of the College of Maritime Transport and Technology, explained, “The Academy offers two specialisations in the first phase: maritime transport technology, which has two disciplines; port operations and maritime operations. Graduates qualify for a bachelor’s degree and certificate of a second officer. The Department of Marine Engineering also includes two domains: marine mechanics or marine electricity, in addition to the certificate of a third marine engineer. Both disciplines qualify graduates to work on commercial ships and petroleum service vessels. AASTS also seeks to attract professionals working in maritime companies in the UAE who wish to take specialised training courses as part of its professional development and continuing education programmes. AASTS provides maritime passport renewal, and cooperates with the training departments of shipping companies to design specialised training programmes in various maritime technical and administrative areas, benefitting from the Academy’s state-of-the-art simulators.

Youssef added, “The maritime sector needs a lot of support from maritime academic institutions to supply the market with qualified young Emirati men and women, and also for the renewal of maritime passports for seafarers. That’s why, our goal is to promote the UAE’s position not only in terms of maritime infrastructure and facilities, but also as a scientific hub for the industry’s latest research, development and innovation. We look forward to building a true partnership between the National academic sector and the maritime industry. This will enhance research and development and prepare technical and administrative studies to help companies achieve further growth and expansion in product quality and business profitability.”

Study at AASTS began in the academic year 2019-2020. It was officially inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. AASTS will support the UAE’s maritime economy and provide it with qualified and trained professionals. The UAE is an advanced global maritime hub with over AED280 billion in maritime business. It hosts dozens of international maritime companies and boasts 19 ports, some of which are ranked first globally.