EIMA, AIMRI Join Forces to Drive Maritime Education Forward

Two pioneering educational giants whose aim is to bring about a revolution in current industrial training methods have joined forces in a strategic alliance geared towards providing maritime education and professional development as a priority for this sector.

Emirates International Maritime Academy (EIMA) a leading maritime training institute in the Middle East and Aries International Maritime Research Institute (AIMRI) a premier university imparting high quality education through comprehensive and well-knit courses utilizing advanced technology have signed a strategic academic cooperation agreement on 7th December 2013. The agreement was signed by His Excellency Khamis Juma Buamim, Chairman Drydocks World and Maritime World and Mr. Sohan Roy, CEO, Aries Group of Companies.

The firm objective of this partnership is to enhance EIMA’s position to ultimately become the World’s No. 1 maritime education destination. Further the Academy will work towards attracting more UAE and Gulf nationals and females to the maritime sector. The Academy will provide high quality career enhancement training in technical and management skills for working professionals as well as long term vocational qualification programs to meet the ever increasing requirement of trained and competent skills in the sector. EIMA will focus on the development and enhancement of skills of future generations with a view to enhance Dubai and the UAE’s image as a world leader in the field of maritime education. The Academy will work with the relevant authorities to drive forward the “HR Vision 2020” envisioned by EIMA as part of the overall industry’s contribution to EXPO 2020.

EIMA–AIMRI strategic academic cooperation will provide a broad plethora of training and education opportunities in the maritime and offshore sector including areas related to safety, marine engineering, naval architecture, leadership skills, project planning and management and occupational health to name a few. It is planned to launch over 400 training and certification programs in the short term with full fledged graduate, post graduate and doctoral programs being put in place in about a year’s time. While enabling local nationals, GCC citizens and expatriates working in the region pursue industry recognized qualifications, this will also provide them an opportunity to attain higher qualifications towards career development. Course will follow a credit based system and there will be flexible options allowing students to meet academic requirements through evening and weekend classes.

“Our wise leadership has always taught us to strive to be the best in what we do, and the launch of this vision and direction is truly fitting in the year 2013 which has been designated as the Year of Nationalization by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.’. This vision and strategy to excel in everything we do extends to the field of education and continuing education and EIMA aims to be the World’s number 1 destination for maritime education. With its strategic location at the cross roads of international trade, excellent connectivity, cutting edge infrastructure and industry support this vision will be achieved. EIMA in association with AIMRI will put in place a number of initiatives to make this vision a reality in the shortest possible time. EIMA will ensure that the maritime education sector in the UAE is further geared towards bringing qualified and competent nationals into the industry, identifying national professionals with the required competencies already in the sector and putting in place plans to provide growth opportunities for nationals as leaders of the future,“ said His Excellency Khamis Juma Buamim.

Mr. Sohan Roy in his statement mentioned “The AIMRI – EIMA partnership will bring along new initiatives, approaches and changes to the outlook of training and development in the marine and maritime sector. This will be the dawning of a new era in the history of education and training in the Middle East. Aries Group is glad to be a part of the UAE’s vision to set up a home grown powerhouse in the maritime education sector. In the year in which Dubai has won the right to host EXPO 2020, we see this as our contribution towards fulfilling the ambitious long term goals envisioned by Drydocks World and Maritime world towards the betterment of the UAE’s maritime industry.”

Courses offered by EIMA and its partners will be internationally accredited and recognized through professional bodies, institutions and renowned universities and will include accreditations under IMO, SOLAS, OPITO, NTA and DNV, making EIMA a one stop shop for all aspects of marine and maritime education. Practical exposure will be offered through EIMA’s association with Drydocks World and Maritime World which can cater to all types of technical training at its training centre. The current infrastructure at EIMA can accommodate upto 20,000 students a year and the plan is to develop a maritime centre of excellence including the establishment of a research institute with the largest Towing Tank facility in the world. This centre will enable industry players in the shipping, maritime, oil, gas, energy and offshore industry to fully meet their skill requirements at this facility and also enable attraction of a global student base in the UAE by 2020.

Drydocks World, December 17, 2013