South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education hosted Professor Bjorn Kjerfve; President of the World Maritime University (WMU) situated in Malmö Sweden, in a private networking session held at UMhlanga Rocks' Oyster Box Hotel on the 14th of May 2013.

Key stakeholders from the maritime sector, government and academia gathered with the purpose of exploring two things in the main: possible partnerships with the WMU, and a way to find consensus on scholarships for students studying maritime at post graduate level at WMU.

The event formed part of Kjerve's week-long visit to the country, running from the 12th to the 18th of May. The prime purpose of hosting the President of WMU in the country is the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between SAMSA and the WMU. This is done in an effort to remedy the absence of post graduate qualifications, dedicated to domains of Maritime Affairs. SAMSA's penultimate aim is the realisation of post-graduate maritime degree offerings in South Africa, through the establishment of a dedicated maritime institute. The partnership sought to achieve an interim solution, which includes various capacity building programmes. These programmes will be offered in the form of scholarships to selected candidates, primarily to capacitate tertiary academics, training institutions and industry bodies.

WMU celebrating 30 years since its establishment by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in 1983 offers post graduate programs designed to respond to the current needs of the maritime industry, through a balance of academic study and practical experience. WMU offers various specialisations, under the rubric of Maritime Affairs, leading up to Post Graduate Diploma and Master of Science level. WMU also has short programmes designed towards capacity building for educators in the maritime sector, and the industry at large.

"We largely address our offerings to government employees and we are trying to reach out more to the private sector", says Kerjev. He pointed out that 100% of the university's alumni are employed, also mentioning that, even though, South Africa has the biggest GDP on the continent WMU has only had 5 registrations from South African students since inception, compared to Nigeria's 141 in the last five years.

Words of support applauding this joint initiative came from the Ethekwini Maritime Cluster (EMC) and The Durban University of Technology (DUT), represented by Miss Fakazile Myeza Knowledge Management and Research Programme Manager, and Professor Darren Lortan Dean of Applied Sciences, respectively. The programme came to a close, formally marking the beginning of networking amongst the delegates, with a vote of thanks from the Executive Head of SAMSA's Centre for Maritime Excellence, and programme director for the evening Miss Sindiswa Nhlumayo.