The latest batch of future maritime leaders have graduated from the World Maritime University (WMU). The 2023 graduation (28 October) saw 283 graduates from 71 countries receive their Masters and Doctorate awards, including a record-breaking ten PhD graduates and 99 female graduates committed to making important inroads in what is still a male-dominated maritime and ocean affairs industry.
The 2023 graduation ceremony brought the total number of WMU graduates to 6,090 from 171 countries and territories. Awards given to graduating students included the prestigious Honorary Fellow Awards, Outstanding Alumni Awards, Chancellor’s Medal for Academic Excellence and the C.P. Srivastava Award for International Fellowship, among others. Professor Myron Nordquist, long-standing supporter of the WMU and renowned international law scholar in maritime law, the law of the sea and ocean policy with a career spanning over 50 years, was awarded a Doctor of Science honoris causa.
As a WMU graduate himself, WMU President Professor Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr. delivered welcome remarks and reflected on the power of the WMU experience and global network. Addressing the graduates he said, “You have certainly acquired information that you did not possess before you enrolled here. Perhaps more importantly for your future in the international maritime world, you have acquired a real and strong network on which you can rely for decades to come.”
In his graduation address, IMO Secretary-General Mr Kitack Lim, the first WMU graduate to serve as IMO Secretary-General and WMU Chancellor, thanked the City of Malmö and the Government of Sweden for their continued generosity and support in hosting the University, and highlighted the key role that the graduates will play in addressing the most critical issues currently facing the global maritime community such as decarbonization, digitalization and supporting the welfare of seafarers in their future careers in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. He spoke about the power of the global WMU network they were joining as the maritime leaders of tomorrow at the forefront of ensuring sustainable maritime and ocean governance via the development of a safer and cleaner shipping industry. He said, “Collectively, WMU graduates form a formidable international network, a force for good in the world. Your influence as global citizens, educated in a unique environment, will extend far beyond what you can envision today.”
Other speakers included Ms Carina Nilsson, Mayor and Chairperson of the Malmö City Council and Mr Donghyeog Seo, President of the Student Council for the Class of 2023.
For full details of awards granted, and to view photos, please see www.wmu.se/news/wmu-graduation-ceremony-2023.
Read the IMO Secretary-General's full address here.