Project Angola
GMU hosted a delegation from Angola yesterday, Wednesday 20th October, for discussions on the potential continuation of the third stage of the project which the University led in 2008-2010 and 2013-2019.
The projects carried out by the University in Africa are its flagship projects and are a response to the increasing interest of African operators in the education and training of their own maritime personnel.
– Today’s meeting is likely the outcome of our talks with the Rector of the University in Namibe, who expressed her desire to continue with the third phase of construction of the school built by Navimor in 2008-2010 and 2013-2019, and with which our school partnered in regards to education and science – commented GMU Rector, Professor Adam Weintrit – It should also be remembered that the project was the largest EU project of its type carried out on the African continent.
The project involved the complete construction of the Academy of Fishery and Marine Sciences in Namibe. Gdynia Maritime University’s contribution was in the shape of the development of organisational concepts, the devising of a roadmap for the development of education and science at the institution, as well as the creation of study plans and programmes, including textbooks. The University was also involved in the design of science laboratories. The Academy in Namibe is a technical public school of higher education, dedicated to the education of personnel for the fishing industry, cargo shipping, as well as the fishing processing sector, water resource testing, and maritime administration. The institution also attracts students from other African countries and aims to admit a total of 1500 people to its study programmes.
To date, the third phase of cooperation has involved cooperation and sponsorship in the preparation of personnel for work at sea in accordance with international standards and at a level that would allow them to obtain the relevant certificates from maritime authorities. Several of the Academy’s future teaching staff also completed master’s degrees and doctorates in Gdynia. Although there are institutions of maritime education in Africa, their qualifications are not internationally recognised. In order to solve this issue, the authorities of African countries look to renowned education establishments abroad for the education of personnel, whilst at the same time establishing new maritime academies at home. The involvement of our University is in both of these areas. As one of the leading maritime universities in the world, Gdynia Maritime University is naturally an attractive partner.
- as part of our discussions, we also touched upon the prospect of a fourth phase of our cooperation, which would be cooperation in the conduction of scientific research – commented Professor Weintrit.
The 14-person delegation from Angola, led by Angolan ambassador to Poland, Feliciano Antonio dos Santos, and Angolan secretary of state, Esmeralda Mendonꞔa, visited the University buildings, including laboratories in the Faculties of Electrical Engineering, Marine Engineering, and Navigation. Before visiting GMU, the delegation met with the construction company Navimor and after the visit were the guests of the governor of Pomerania.
Representing the University at the meeting were University Rector, Professor Adam Weintrit; Professor Tomasz Tarasiuk; Dr Sambor Guze; Dr Dariusz Barbucha; Dr Mirosław Czechowski; Dr Mirosław Czechowski; the Director of the Ship Management Office, Dr Bogumił Łączyński; Rector Emeritus Piotr Jędrzejowicz; Professor Janusz Mindykowski; University Chancellor Filip Malata; and Bursary Paweł Orzeszek.
