The memorandum of agreement (MoA) includes two annual fellowships for well-qualified applicants from emerging countries to enrol in the World Maritime University's (WMU) master's in maritime affairs.
The funding, to head towards South American and West African students, will facilitate knowledge and skill development in a wide range of maritime and ocean topics, including decarbonisation and energy management, shipping logistics, port management, and law and policy.
In addition to the fellowships, the agreement includes the Grimaldi Group joining the WMU Industry Liaison Group, which facilitates initiatives supporting the University's academic, research, and capacity building outcomes, among others, the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The agreement also allows Grimaldi Group senior staff to deliver lectures to WMU students and attend the University's conferences. The company will also provide support for field studies undertaken by WMU as well as internships. The parties will also undertake greenhouse gas emissions from ship research.
"The MoA with the Grimaldi Foundation underscores the importance of industry support for WMU. The shipping industry directly benefits from the education that WMU provides for the maritime and ocean leaders of tomorrow, providing capacity building and leveling the playing field for an industry that is reliant on international cooperation. We are grateful to the Grimaldi Foundation for their support to WMU's mission, and we look forward to our collaboration under this agreement," Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, President, WMU, commented.
Emanuele Grimaldi, the Grimaldi Group's CEO, also underlined, "The Grimaldi Foundation is happy to start a cooperation with the World Maritime University, amplifying and at the same time internationalising our involvement in granting an equal chance of access to superior level of education for young people from emerging countries. All economic academic investigations highlight that no development is possible in societies without investment in education. Through the partnership with WMU with respect to post-graduate education, we hope to do our part for helping the life of many students as well as the self-development of South American and West African States, in the field we know the most: the maritime field."
Photo: Grimaldi Group