On 14 June, WMU signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Higher Institute of Maritime Studies (ISEM) headquartered in Casablanca, Morocco, WMU says in a press release. The MOU was signed by Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, President of WMU and Dr. Mohamed Briouig, Director of ISEM.
ISEM is one of seven institutions with whom a review and evaluation process was successfully concluded and approved by the WMU Board of Governors at its 37th Session in May 2019. As a result of this evaluation process, a new collaboration arrangement with ISEM has been put in place to provide for continued collaboration on global maritime leadership training and capacity building for the international and Moroccan maritime community.
Dr. Doumbia-Henry welcomed the strengthened cooperation stating, “WMU is committed to the sustainable development of ocean and maritime industries in developing countries. Through post-graduate education, research and capacity building in the maritime and ocean fields, the University enables maritime leaders to return to their home countries and pass on their knowledge for the betterment of society as a whole. In fulfilling its mission, WMU relies on strong and effective partnerships that deliver tangible outcomes and impact positively on both partners involved. This MOU with ISEM demonstrates how knowledge transfer and capacity development can translate into an effective contribution to the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
Dr. Mohamed Briouig, a WMU alumnus and Director of ISEM stated, “The Higher Institute of Maritime Studies is already well anchored within the maritime industry in Morocco and the Africa-Middle East region. It has played an important role in maritime training and capacity building since its inception in 1957. The strategy now is to transform the ISEM into a regional centre of excellence in maritime education and training, able to support the development of maritime and ocean related activities in Africa and the middle-east. The intensive collaboration with WMU, as evidenced in this MOU, is key to ISEM’s future development and the sustainable development of the maritime and ocean industries in Morocco and the region.”
The agreement replaces the MOU signed with ISEM in 2016 and provides for strengthened cooperation between the two institutions to support the education of maritime leaders in Morocco. The MOU includes provision for one fellowship to be funded annually by ISEM for their faculty to study in the Malmö MSc and PhD programmes. The MoU also supports maritime and oceans capacity building in Morocco and beyond as well as exchange of faculty members between the two institutions.