The Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) – Sharjah Branch is participating in the UAE Maritime Week 2019 as part of its strategy to consolidate partnership between the academic sector and maritime industry.

The event is being held in Dubai, UAE under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, from September 22 to 26.

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.

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."

“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 October 7, 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,” he added.

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. "

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. – TradeArabia News Service