WMU, Maersk Line join forces on corruption awareness

The World Maritime University is pleased to announce a new initiative with the collaboration of Maersk which aims to focus on maritime business integrity and corruption awareness.

“We are delighted to mark the United Nations’ International Anti-Corruption Day today by announcing a new initiative, which harnesses the expertise of both the World Maritime University and Maersk Line to raise awareness of corruption,” says WMU’s President, Dr Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry.

“The United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Transforming our World, is informing all the University’s activities. The joint initiative with Maersk Line responds directly to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.”

The Danish shipowner, Maersk Line, has partnered with the World Maritime University (WMU) in a unique higher education project on corruption awareness. The corruption awareness project – known as  CORA – is co-funded by the A.P. Moller Support Fund and Maersk Line. It will be launched on 15 December 2015 and is expected to conclude on 30 September 2016.

As part of the CORA project, WMU will design, test, and deliver a Master’s level course focused on business integrity issues and corruption awareness, both of which are growing areas of interest for shipowners and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

 The course contains five modules: corruption awareness, maritime security and safety, leadership, change and communication, negotiation techniques and a mentoring module where WMU and Maersk representatives will provide mentoring for selected candidates after they return to their home countries. In addition to supporting the development of the course, CORA provides a full fellowship for a student to join the WMU MSc programme in Malmö.

Case studies provided by Maersk Line will support the project, as will the experiences of WMU faculty who will be sailing on Maersk ships in order to acquire first-hand knowledge regarding best practices for both public and private actors in the shipping industry.  Ms. Kristin Berglund, Senior Legal Advisor for Maersk Line, will work with the WMU team led by Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor Lisa L. Froholdt.

The WMU CORA team is enthusiastic about the unique nature of this course with its mentoring component as well as the significant contribution that will be made by Maersk Line. 

Dr. Froholdt stated, “Business integrity and corruption awareness is a global issue. I am grateful to Maersk for this opportunity and for the fact that Maersk Line has chosen to work with WMU on this significant project. “

Maersk Line Chief Operating Officer Soren Toft stated, “Corruption is a real issue in many parts of the world, and one that we face daily in the shipping industry. Maersk has a zero-tolerance policy on fraud and corruption, but the battle is not won overnight and requires that we work together. As the largest container carrier we have an obligation to help resolve the issue more widely, and by partnering with WMU we believe we can take another step towards a maritime industry free of corruption.” 

Source & Image Credit: WMU