President of WMU, Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, and President of the Korea Maritime and Ocean University (KMOU), Prof. Dr. Han-il PARK, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 31 May. WMU says the signing was witnessed by Mr. Kitack Lim, IMO Secretary-General and Chancellor of WMU together with Mr. Juvenal J.M. Shiundu, Acting Director, Technical Cooperation Division at IMO as well as distinguished members of the delegation from KMOU including Prof. Dr. Yun-Cheol LEE, Dean, College of Maritime Sciences, Prof. Dr. Dong-Keun RYOO, Director, Center for International Affairs and Mr. Nam Kyu LEE, Maritime Safety TF Team, Busan Metropolitan City.
The MoU recognizes the mutual interests of the parties in the field of maritime and related oceans education and research. It aims to promote academic and educational exchanges including exchanges of faculty, researchers and students as well as collaborative research lectures and conferences in areas of common interest. Cooperation will also include the exchange of academic information and materials in areas of mutual interest, further contributing to WMU’s role as leading postgraduate maritime institution with a focus on research-informed services to IMO, its member States and the global maritime and oceans community.
The MoU supports WMU’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely Goal 4 focused on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. Further, it supports the WMU Strategic Plan 2016-2019, particularly Strategic Direction 6 focused on new ways of collaboration with other universities.