As part of its strategy to consolidate partnership between the academic sector and maritime industry, the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) – Sharjah Branch participates in the UAE Maritime Week 2019, which was held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, from 22 to 26 September 2019. AASTMT is represented by Dr. Hisham Afifi, Advisor to the President of the Academy and in charge of Khorfakkan’s branch, the Maritime College and Dr. Ahmed Youssef, Deputy Dean of the College of Maritime Transport and Technology.

Partnership between the academic and marine sectors

Dr. Afifi said, “The UAE is an advanced global shipping hub with over AED280 billion in maritime businesses. It hosts dozens of international maritime companies and boasts 19 ports, some of which are ranked first globally. That’s why; the maritime sector needs a lot of support from maritime academic institutions, especially to supply the market with qualified young Emirati professionals, and to test renewal of the maritime passports for seafarers.”

Dr. Afifi added, “Our participation in the UAE Maritime Week 2019 comes at a very important time for us as we are approaching the official inauguration of the Academy in Khorfakkan on 7^th October 2019, under the patronage and in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. A number of Emirati and international maritime leaders will also be present. We look forward to building a true partnership between the National academic sector and the maritime industry. This will contribute to research and development and prepare technical and administrative studies to help companies achieve further growth and expansion in product quality and business profitability.”

Quality Seminars

Commenting on the AASTMT’s participation in the UAE Maritime Week 2019, Dr. Youssef said, “Our participation featured two workshops; the first discussed future prospects for adopting technology to help maritime crews and using robots within their operations. The second workshop was part of the activities of the Arab Women in Maritime Association (AWIMA) where we presented the great prospects the Academy offers in women’s education and empowerment in the maritime industry. I would like to point out that a large number of the Academy’s current students are females. This high demand from female students for marine education is a positive indicator of women’s partnership in this key component of the national economic sectors. ”

Academy’s Stand at Seatrade ShipTech

AASTMT’s team will be also available at the Seatrade ShipTech exhibition. The stand will show the specialties it will provide in Sharjah. The Faculty of Maritime Transport will start its first academic year 2019-2020 with two specialisations; Maritime Transport, which offers a bachelor’s degree in Maritime Transport and graduates become permanent maritime officers. The second specialisation is marine engineering, where the graduate receives a bachelor’s in Marine Engineering Technology and becomes a third marine engineer. AASTMT 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. AASTMT 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.

Integrated educational campus

AASTMT’s new branch in Sharjah is a grant by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who will bear the costs of its construction and equipment at a cost of one billion dirhams on an area of ​​200,000 square meters. The Academy will grant students a Bachelor’s degree in Applied and Theoretical Sciences and Maritime Transport, a Certificate of Competence in the Maritime Transport, a Second Officer Certificate in Maritime Technology, Marine Safety Technology, Environmental Protection, Shipping and Port Management, a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Engineering Technology, a Certificate of Competency for Third Engineer Officer, a Bachelor’s in Marine Electrical Engineering and Certified Electrostatic Technician.

The college will play a pivotal role in bridging the shortage of Emirati professionals in the local and regional markets, in addition to contributing to promoting the UAE’s position as one of the key global marine hubs not only in terms of marine infrastructure and facilities, but also as a scientific centre for the industry’s latest research, development and innovation.