Gdynia Maritime University GMU

The International Association of Maritime Universities IAMU is a global network of leading maritime universities providing Maritime Education and Training (MET) to seafarers in the global ship industry.

The IAMU association was founded in 1999 by seven maritime universities from five continents brought together by recognition of the importance of maritime education and training in the face of the rapid globalisation of international shipping in the 21st century. During the Annual General Assembly of IAMU (AGA IAMU) in 2020, 21 maritime higher education institutions, including Gdynia Maritime University, were admitted to the new organisation. Currently, the association comprises 72 members from 38 countries from Europe and Africa (41), Asia, Pacific and Oceania (18), Americas (11), and special members (2) which meet the education standards at levels 1,2, and 3 of maritime higher education. The Nippon Foundation of Tokyo, Japan, supports the activities of the IAMU by awarding research grants.

In 2007, the IAMU obtained the consultative status of Non-Governmental International Organization (NGO) representing the academic maritime community, authorised to participate in the IMO sessions.

The IAMU Annual General Assembly (AGA) held in individual member states is the main IAMU forum which enables the exchange of information and the validation of the association's strategy, whilst promoting good relations and cooperation between members. The association gathers for scientific conferences, to present ongoing research projects, as well as at conferences dedicated exclusively to students, such as the IAMU Students (IAMUS) Conference.

The 12th general meeting of IAMU (12 AGA IAMU) took place in Gdynia in 2011. 150 professors from 48 member institutions and more than 30 students took part in the event, which also included a unique rally of training vessels.

Gdynia Maritime University was a member of the International Executive Board (IEB) IAMU for the term of office of 2020-2022 and chaired one of the four IAMU Standing Committees responsible for the work of the Academic Affairs Committee (AAC). For two consecutive terms (2014-2016 and 2016–2018) GMU also led a group of 35 member universities from the Europe and Africa region and was part of the AAC, which oversaw the association's research and development projects and publishing activities. The University was also a member of the IEB during this time.  

On 23rd February 2022, elections took place among the group of members from IAMU's Europe and Africa Region 1. The University of Rijeka was elected as the successor to GMU for the period 2023-2025.

Recognising the contribution of GMU in recent years, the members of the International Executive Board have decided that our University will sit on the International Executive Board for the period 2023-2025 as a permanent representative of all IAMU associated maritime universities. The decision means that the University, which represented the Europe/Africa region until March 2023, will, as of April 2023, be part of a group of so-called "At Large Representatives", i.e., three universities that have been nominated for their involvement in the various committees, working groups, conferences, and webinars, as well as participation in research projects.

The International Association of Maritime Universities IAMU held an extraordinary meeting of its International Executive Board in Tokyo on 13th and 14th February 2023. During the meeting, its members elected the Chair and the permanent members of the Committee for the years 2023-2025.

HM Rector Professor Adam Weintrit was elected as general Chair of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU) and also the Head of the Policy and Planning Committee. The tasks of the Committee include:

• advising the Executive Board on general and detailed political issues;
• developing and evaluating the implementation of strategic plans and action plans;
• overseeing the assessment of new membership applications;
• nominating candidates to the Management Board and the Heads of the Permanent Committees for the next term of office;
• creation of public information materials, including the development of the IAMU website.
  

  

  IAMU International Executive Board 2023-2025

  From left to right: Prof Jari Multisilta, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences; CADM Francis X McDonald, Massachusetts Maritime Academy; Prof Ana Peric Hadzic, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Maritime Studies; Prof Takeshi Nakazawa, IAMU Executive Director; Dr Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation, Prof Adam Weintrit, Gdynia Maritime University; Chair of IAMU, Prof Nafiz Arica, Piri Reis University; Dr Cleopatra Dounbia-Henry, President of the World Maritime University; Prof Yuqing Sun, Dalian Maritime University; Prof Michael van Balen, Australian Maritime College, University of Tasmania.