His Highness elaborated that the development plans and projects include academic and teaching levels, training and practical systems, study facilities like libraries, and international cooperation and curricula, all with the goal of honing students' skills and graduating them according to approved standards and international specifications in their marine specialisations.
His Highness said that the Emirate of Sharjah is home to many prestigious educational institutions, and he expressed his hope that the academy will be able to fulfil its mission of producing highly trained technical professionals.
Announcing the establishment of the Sharjah Academy of Maritime Transport (SAMT), His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah said, "By Law No. (2) of 2023 AD regarding the organisation of the Sharjah Academy of Maritime Transport (SAMT), issued by us, the Sharjah Academy of Maritime Transport (SAMT) has become an institution belonging to the Government of Sharjah, and we hope that the Sharjah Academy of Maritime Transport (SAMT) will be one of the leading maritime institutions in the world, to support and develop the maritime transport sector, and to prepare skilled personnel to work in various fields related to this vital sector based on the latest scientific and practical systems."
His Highness explained that Sharjah Academy of Maritime Transport (SAMT) has added an extra academic year for currently enrolled students to ensure the refinement of their skills and the upgrading of their practical and scientific competencies required to work in the maritime sector and to obtain local academic accreditation in accordance with the approved standards of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
Speaking about elements of training and the creation of systems and devices, His Highness has highlighted the Academy's aims and programmes for improving maritime education and training programmes, stating, "In order to meet the training requirements for certificates and academic accreditation from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), we aim to provide more opportunities for practical and field training on board ships and on the high seas by increasing the hours allocated for practical training, developing simulation centre devices with the newest technologies in navigation and engineering operations, and integrating virtual reality programmes to explore various marine scenarios before getting actual training on ships, contributing in enhancing the student's experience before engaging in practical training on ships, as well as creating intense workshops for students and developing a ship's turret simulator that will combine theoretical knowledge with real-world experience."
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah referred to the Academy's ambitious plans for international cooperation in various educational fields, stating, "we will work to strengthen international cooperation and institutional companies, as well as expand the network of partnerships with specialised and prestigious international bodies and universities in the field of maritime transport, with the aim of exchanging knowledge and developing programmes, and emphasising the best international practices and standards, along with appointing a number of experts within the Board of Trustees of the Sharjah Maritime Transport Academy, in order to exchange experiences and provide training opportunities and human resource management for students who aspire to work in the field of maritime transport management and industry, and the two experts are: Professor Jens Uwe Schröder-Hinrich Vice-President (Academic Affairs) of the World Maritime University (WMU), and Professor Syamantak Bhattacharya Pro Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Solent University, UK."
Concluding his speech, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah prayed for the safe return of the Academy's students who travelled abroad to learn how to navigate ships on the high seas and wished them the best of luck.
