On the morning of July 25, the 20th Anniversary celebration of the joint MSc in Maritime Affairs with a specialization in Maritime Safety and Environmental Management (MSEM, hereinafter referred to as “the Program”), offered by Dalian Maritime University (DMU) in collaboration with the World Maritime University (WMU), was held at our university. Under the theme “From Challenges to Excellence: Celebrating 20 Years of MSEM”, the event brought together over 200 participants, including renowned experts and scholars from the global maritime sector, as well as faculty and student representatives of the Program. Together, they revisited the journey of the past two decades and envisioned the future of international cooperation.

Kitack Lim, former Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO); Maximo Mejia, President of WMU; Daniel Moon, Vice President of WMU; Takeshi Nakazawa, Secretary-General of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU); Shan Hongjun, President of DMU; Zeng Qingcheng, Vice President of DMU; former DMU leaders including Wu Zhaolin, former President; Sun Yuqing, former Party Secretary and President; Sun Peiting and Liu Zhengjiang, former Vice Presidents; together with faculty representatives from WMU, officials from maritime authorities across China, and coordinators of Sino-foreign joint education programs from domestic universities, attended the event. The symposium was co-chaired by Ma Mingfei, Director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Office of DMU, and Zhang Jinlei, Dean of Houston International Institute of DMU.

In his speech, Shan Hongjun reflected on the fruitful achievements of the program over the past 20 years. He highlighted that, over the two decades, the initiative has become a model of international maritime education cooperation by adopting an innovative model of “dual-university collaboration, dual-track training, and mutual empowerment.” By integrating cutting-edge global resources with China’s maritime practices, the program has successfully nurtured 802 outstanding graduates, who have gone on to become a vital force driving the development of the maritime industry. Shan emphasized that, in the face of the global maritime sector’s green transition and digital transformation, Dalian Maritime University is committed to deepening its practical cooperation with the World Maritime University. The two institutions will focus on key areas such as intelligent navigation, clean energy applications for ships, and global maritime governance, striving to cultivate high-caliber talents with both strong professional competence and a broad international perspective. This joint effort will continue to contribute to the high-quality development of the global maritime industry.

Maximo Mejia praised the program as a forward-looking model of strategic cooperation between the two universities, reflecting the deep integration of academic excellence with global policy development. He noted that the program, which leverages contributions from international experts, alumni, and partner organizations and builds on world-class faculty and academically rigorous standards, has produced a cohort of maritime professionals. He called for deepened collaboration with our institution to expand international partnerships and integrate resources, thereby creating fresh impetus for global maritime advancement.

Mr. Jose Matheickal, Director of the Technical Cooperation and Implementation Division at the IMO, delivered a video address. He stated that the program has received significant attention and sustained support from the IMO since its inception. It fully embodies the IMO’s core mission of advancing global maritime development, and he looks forward to the program making greater contributions to global ocean governance and sustainable development by nurturing high-level maritime professionals.

In his address, Mr. Kitack Lim acknowledged the program’s vital contributions to talent cultivation and marine sustainability. He stressed that the initiative not only demonstrates excellence in international maritime education but also reflects the long-term strategic vision of the collaborating partners. He pointed out that the in-depth collaboration between the two universities has effectively promoted international cooperation in maritime education and played a positive role in enhancing professional standards, boosting industry competitiveness, and cultivating leading maritime talents.

Li Daze, Director of Yingkou Maritime Safety Administration and a graduate of the first cohort of the program, reviewed the profound impact of his studies in the program on his career in his speech. Looking to the future, he called for integrating the advanced concepts of Law of the People’s Republic of China on Work Safety into conventions of the IMO, promoting the transformation of maritime safety from a technical standard-based system to a comprehensive system that emphasizes technology, management, and responsibility. He also advocated providing “Chinese solutions” for the global shipping industry to help realize the shared vision of safer navigation and cleaner oceans.

At the award ceremony, Shan Hongjun and Maximo Mejia jointly presented the “Outstanding Foundation Award” to the founders of the program, namely Wu Zhaolin, Sun Yuqing, Ma Shuo, Proshanto Mukherjee, Sun Peiting, Liu Zhengjiang, Chen Biwu, Song Qin, Li Zhaoliang and Zhang Renping.

Daniel Moon presented the “Distinguished Faculty Award” to the faculty representatives of the program, including Takeshi Nakazawa, Bao Junzhong, Cheng Dong, Du Dachang, Dang Kun, Jiang Yuechuan, Zhao Jian, and Zheng Yunfeng.

Zeng Qingcheng presented the “Extraordinary Contribution Award” to the staff representatives of the program, namely Sun Hongli, Fu Xianping, Zhang Jinlei, Wang Yanhua and Zhao Lu.

The two universities then signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the fields of intelligent shipping technology and maritime energy management, marking a new stage in their partnership.

The two roundtable discussions, themed “Passion & Dedication: Our Voyage to Excellence” and “Reflections & Aspirations: The Journey Continues,” brought together international maritime experts and graduates from the program for in-depth exchanges on topics such as innovation in global maritime talent cultivation, pathways for sustainable program growth, and emerging trends in the maritime industry.

At the exchange event, student representatives of the program presented commemorative gifts to both universities to mark the 20th anniversary of the partnership—a meaningful symbol of the two decades of educational collaboration. President Shan Hongjun and Maximo Mejia accepted the gifts on behalf of their respective institutions. In celebration of the anniversary, program students and faculty representatives also gave artistic performances to express their best wishes for the program’s 20th anniversary.

The event provided a comprehensive showcase of the program’s achievements over the past 20 years, deepened the practical collaboration between the two universities, and further reinforced DMU’s prominent role in international maritime education. Looking ahead, the two institutions will continue to work hand in hand to cultivate more globally competitive maritime professionals, open a new chapter in international maritime education cooperation, and contribute sustained momentum to building a maritime community with a shared future.