Dr. Yohei Sasakawa Conferred Honorary Title of Doctor Honoris Causa of Gdynia Maritime University

The title of Doctor honoris causa of Gdynia Maritime University is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development of science, culture, the economy, maritime education and social life, and whose work and achievements represent a lasting contribution to the academic community and society.

The ceremonial meeting of the GMU Senate, convened to confer this distinguished honour, began at 11:00 am with the traditional tapping of glasses. Participants gathered in the Tadeusz Meissner Auditorium, where members of the Senate, representatives of the University Council, University staff, and invited guests were welcomed by HM The Rector of Gdynia Maritime University, Professor Adam Weintrit.

In his ceremonial address, Professor Weintrit highlighted the Honouree’s achievements, drawing attention to Dr. Sasakawa’s work through The Nippon Foundation:

Dr. Yohei Sasakawa is a figure of exceptional authority, combining a vision of responsible leadership with tangible action undertaken in the service of peace, sustainable development, and cooperation among nations. His activities, carried out through The Nippon Foundation, have for decades contributed to the advancement of maritime education, the protection of the ocean environment, maritime safety and security, and the building of bridges of understanding between the cultures of the East and the West.

Professor Weintrit also emphasised the significance of the honour conferred by the University:

Gdynia Maritime University, faithful to its mission of educating intellectual and professional elites for the maritime economy and transport sector, acknowledges with the highest esteem the contribution of Dr. Yohei Sasakawa to strengthening the role of knowledge, dialogue, and responsibility in the global maritime domain. These values are fully aligned with the mission of our University. A tangible manifestation of his engagement in maritime affairs is the co-financing of the activities of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU). As a member of the IAMU International Executive Board in the years 2000–2025, and particularly during the period when I had the honor of serving as Chairman of the Association in 2023–2025, I had several occasions to meet personally with Dr. Sasakawa. These meetings were invariably of great significance; one could clearly sense that we were discussing matters of genuine importance for maritime safety, such as the joint initiative of The Nippon Foundation and the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) within the framework of The Nippon Foundation–GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project, aimed at mapping the entire ocean floor by the year 2030.
The conferral of the title of Doctor honoris causa is not only an act of honoring the extraordinary achievements of the Honouree, but also a symbol of friendship, respect, and cooperation between academic communities and institutions working for the future of the seas and oceans. We are convinced that this ceremony will be permanently inscribed in the history of Gdynia Maritime University as an event of special significance.

The laudatio was then delivered by Professor Janusz Mindykowski, who presented Dr. Yohei Sasakawa’s profile and accomplishments. In his laudatio, the promoter stressed that:

[…] the acceptance of this honorary doctorate by Dr. Yohei Sasakawa is a great honour and distinction not only for the distinguished Candidate, but also for Gdynia Maritime University. I am convinced that he will continue to contribute significant value to the development of our University, serving as its prominent ambassador as well as a pioneer in international maritime education as a whole. His complete dedication to fighting social exclusion in many forms and the protection of the Earth’s resources, focused on the common heritage of seas and oceans, fully deserves to be awarded with an honorary doctorate from Gdynia Maritime University. Therefore, I am deeply convinced that the honorary title of Doctor honoris causa of our University is conferred on the most deserving recipient.

The diploma, prepared in Polish and English, was read by the Rector, while the Latin text of the conferral was read by the Master of Ceremonies, Aleksander Gosk, adding a particularly solemn character to the occasion.

After the formal act of conferral, Dr. Sasakawa addressed the audience with remarks prepared for the event, expressing his gratitude for the honour:

I feel deeply grateful for the honour you have bestowed upon me today. I understand that this honorary doctoral degree recognises my contribution to maritime policy development and the promotion of safety at sea, as well as my broader engagement in peace building and international cooperation through my humanitarian activities – yet, for me, this honour is not a conclusion: it is a reminder of why I came to devote myself to this lifetime commitment.

After referring to the life-changing experience of war during his childhood, the honorary doctor stressed the fundamental importance of maritime transport and the role of maritime universities in educating specialists for the future:

Even today, more than 90% of global logistics is supported by maritime transport, making the safe navigation of ships indispensable to the survival of humankind. At the same time, with the ongoing development of hydrogen engines and other technological innovations in the maritime sector, we are entering an era where seafarers will be required to acquire new skills. In this context, the importance of maritime universities, including Gdynia Maritime University, which is dedicated to training the next generation of maritime professionals who are able to respond to new demands, will only continue to grow.

Dr. Sasakawa concluded his address with thanks and an acknowledgement of those who worked with him. He then paid tribute to Gdynia Maritime University, saying:

In closing, I would like to express my profound respect for the achievements of Gdynia Maritime University, and my heartfelt hope that the education fostered here will continue to inspire and empower the next generation.

Later in the ceremony, the Master of Ceremonies informed attendees of the congratulatory letters received for the Dr. Sasakawa on the occasion of the award of the honorary title of Doctor honoris causa of Gdynia Maritime University.

The ceremony concluded with the unveiling of Dr. Yohei Sasakawa’s name on the commemorative plaque honouring the honorary doctors of Gdynia Maritime University, symbolically inscribing the Honouree into the University’s history.

To mark the occasion, Gdynia Maritime University published a commemorative book entitled ‘Dr. Yohei Sasakawa. Doctor Honoris Causa of Gdynia Maritime University’.
 

Photos: Cezary Spigarski

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