His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sharjah Maritime Academy, chaired the meeting of the Board of Trustees, on Thursday, at the Academy’s headquarters in Khorfakkan.
His Highness announced his gift to the academy: a ship, highly equipped with facilities and technologies for its practical training programs. The boat will enable students to practice fieldwork.
His Highness commended the Academy’s rapid success, appreciating the role of the Academy’s administration, headed by Dr Hashim bin Sarhan Al Zaabi, the Academy’s Chancellor, in driving a qualitative shift at both the academic and administrative levels. His Highness recalled the Academy’s birth and the challenges it overcame.
His Highness affirmed the ongoing implementation of the Academy’s plans, providing top-tier training programs and preparing students for careers in maritime transport, its systems, port management, navigation, and supply chain management. His Highness appreciated the partners’ support, leading to the Academy’s progress and sustainability.
Along with the Board, His Highness addressed several agenda items, during the meeting, including periodic reports, curriculum development, and expanding institutional partnerships.
The Board greenlighted the budget for the 2026-2027 academic year.
The Board approved four new academic programs: a Bachelor of Science in Naval Architecture and Sustainable Marine Engineering, a Bachelor of Science in Marine Environment and Renewable Energy, a Master of Science in Intelligent Marine Systems and Artificial Intelligence, and a Master of Science in Global Supply Chain Management, after obtaining initial accreditation from the Commission for Academic Accreditation at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
In cooperation with the Cypriot Maritime Administration, the Board approved four training programs to enable trainees to advance in their careers in the maritime transport domain. The programs include the experienced seafarers' path to the ship's duty officer, chief officer ("first officer"), second engineer, and ship's electrical technical officer.
Partnering with Cypriot Maritime Administration demonstrates the significance of building relations with specialized global entities. It will boost the academy’s confidence on a global scale, increase opportunities to hire professionals, and attract international students.
The Board reviewed the report of Dr Hashim Al Zaabi, which included a comprehensive presentation on the Academy’s performance in the past period, as well as the most prominent academic, administrative, and research achievements during the past academic year.
The report included the renewal of the academy’s institutional accreditation for 4 years by the Academic Accreditation Committee of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, without noting any institutional weaknesses. It also included commendations from the expert team regarding the coherent structure of the programs, compliance with the regulatory standards of higher education, the outstanding infrastructure that facilitates training, and the diversity in the faculty members.
The Board reviewed the international accreditations achieved by the academic programs, as the Bachelor of Maritime Logistics and Supply Chain Management program obtained international accreditation from the Logistics and Transportation Institute, and the Bachelor of Maritime Transport and Bachelor of Marine Engineering Technology programs obtained international accreditation from the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology. Furthermore, the Board addressed the efforts to secure international accreditations for the remaining academic programs.
The meeting discussed expanding training and consultation for the maritime sector. The academy offers a range of training programs to many ports and maritime institutions, both nationally and across the Arab World, to prepare staff working in the fields of pilotage, engineering and management of tugboats, port security, ship traffic, and supply chain management, highlighting the academy’s confidence in its programs and role in supporting specialized personnel.
The Council also reviewed the Academy’s accreditation as a training center in Liberia and Panama. This review considered the progress the Academy has made in developing its programs and abilities. These improvements raise the standards of trainees and help them gain the skills and knowledge needed in maritime transport.
The meeting included a review of the academy's achievement of the certificate of compliance with the international standard specification 9001:2015. It met all requirements, which improves its accreditation as a maritime educational institution in line with the International Maritime Organization.
The Board also reviewed the reports from its subcommittees: the Academic Committee, the Finance Committee, the Compliance and Internal Audit Committee, and the Financial Resources Development Committee. They discussed the recommendations each committee submitted and made the necessary decisions.
The meeting was attended by: Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Ports, Customs, and Free Zones Authority; Engineer Ali Saeed Sultan Mohammed bin Shaheen Al Suwaidi, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Public Works (SDPW); Dr. Salah Butti Al Muhairi, Chairman of Mubadara; Dr Aisha Mohammed Bukhatir Al Shamsi, Secretary General of the Sharjah Council for Higher Education and Scientific Research; Dr. Hashim Abdullah bin Sarhan Al Zaabi, Director of the Sharjah Maritime Academy; Dr Ali Hilal Al Naqbi, Chancellor of the University of Khorfakkan; Dr. Saif Khamis Al Naqbi, Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs at the University of Khorfakkan; Abdullah Hamad Al Owais, Deputy CEO and Head of Banking Deposits at Sharjah Islamic Bank; Salem Mohammed Al Kindi, Member of the Municipal Council of Kalba; and Dr Jens-Uwe Schröder-Hinrichs, Vice President of the World Maritime University in Sweden
