Three plans drawn up by the University to guide its future development
The World Maritime University (WMU) Board of Governors, meeting for its 29th regular session, has welcomed the improvement in the University’s budgetary position since the last session and approved three plans drawn up by the University to guide its future development.
The Board met in Malmö City Hall, on 2 June 2011, under the chairmanship of the University’s Chancellor, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General, Mr. Efthimios Mitropoulos. This was the second meeting of the Board since the governance arrangements at the University were updated, through the revision of its Charter, which came into effect on 1 January 2010. The recently-appointed Chairman of the Executive Board, Mr. Torben Skaanild, also attended the meeting.
The Board welcomed the improvement in the University’s budgetary position since its last session, which had been achieved through a number of measures including the financial support provided by the IMO in 2010 and 2011; the restructuring of academic programmes; significant cost-saving and income-generating activities by the University itself; and additional donations from governments and industry.
The Board noted that, as had been the case since the University’s inception, the longer term financial outlook was, however, challenging and the need for securing sustainable sources of funding remained a high priority for the University.
The Board approved, as working documents, three plans drawn up by the University to guide its future development: a Strategic Vision Plan, 2010-2015; a Development Plan, 2011-2013 (which includes plans for the relocation of the University to a larger, state-of-the-art building provided by the City of Malmö); and a Business Plan for 2011 and 2012 (which includes much-improved financial modelling tools to support the effective management of the University’s limited resources).
In drawing the meeting to a close, Chancellor Mitropoulos welcomed the very positive developments since the last session of the Board and, in thanking Board members for their contribution to the University, urged them to do everything possible to promote the benefits of the education and research provided by the University and the added value it provides to the international maritime community through its 3,000 plus alumni from all over the world.
World Maritime University (WMU)
The University has established an excellent reputation as the global centre for advanced education, training and research for specialist personnel from the international maritime community.
Graduates from 157 countries and territories maintain close links both with the University and among themselves, furthering IMO’s objectives of encouraging and facilitating the highest practicable standards in maritime safety and security and the prevention and control of pollution of the marine environment. Many hold senior positions in maritime education, as heads of institutions or as professors.
Others hold key posts in national ministries, maritime administrations, ports and shipping companies, or represent their Governments in a range of capacities, enabling them to influence and direct policy in their countries and regions. WMU graduates are also increasingly called upon to contribute to international maritime fora, including IMO itself.
The WMU receives financial and in-kind support from donors, in particular the host Government of Sweden, the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency and the City of Malmö, which have supported the institution and its students since 1983.
Other notable supporters, over many years, have included the Nippon Foundation and the Ocean Policy Research Foundation of Japan; the International Transport Workers’ Federation; the Governments of Canada, Denmark, France, Norway, the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom; Inmarsat Global Limited; and several European Union and IMO technical co-operation projects.
The University has an international Board of Governors, composed of representatives of different governmental, industry, labour and educational bodies.
Source: IMO
