On Tuesday, April 29th, 2025, the Regional Maritime University (RMU) and Shanghai Maritime University (SMU) held a commemorative symposium to mark 15 years of successful collaboration for the Logistics Management Programme.
Dignitaries with some students after the symposium
The event, held at the RMU campus, celebrated the achievements of the partnership and explored opportunities for its future development.
The symposium brought together key stakeholders, faculty, alumni and students to share the successes of the joint initiative while identifying strategies to strengthen and expand the programme.
The collaboration, which officially began in March 2011, has since produced 346 graduates from across Africa who now contribute to the growth of the maritime and logistics industry globally.
In his remarks, the Academic Registrar at RMU, Mr. Jones Addai-Marfo, paid tribute to the founders of the partnership, recognising their vision and foresight.
Mr. Addai-Marfo with Prof Ofosu Boateng and other guests at the symposium
He noted that the initiative has significantly contributed to the development of human capital within the maritime industry, with alumni currently serving in diverse roles worldwide.
Mr. Addai-Marfo urged both institutions to explore new areas of cooperation, particularly in engineering and technology, to diversify training offerings and broaden the scope of impact. He reaffirmed RMU’s unwavering commitment to the partnership and encouraged graduates to apply their acquired skills to drive innovation and transformation in the maritime sector.
Delivering a virtual address, the Vice President of SMU, Professor Yin Ming, commended the partnership’s impact over the past decade and a half. He stated that the programme has not only trained industry-ready professionals but also fostered academic and cultural exchange between China and Africa. He reiterated SMU’s commitment to deepening the partnership by enhancing the curriculum, promoting joint research initiatives, and expanding employment pathways for graduates. To conclude, he further stressed the importance of cultural exchange in enriching the student experience and sustaining the legacy of the collaboration.
SMU Lecturers at the event
The Dean of Maritime Studies at RMU, Professor Nana Ofosu Boateng, highlighted the importance of the symposium as a significant milestone in the bilateral agreement between the two institutions.
RMU staff and students at the symposium
He noted that the programme has advanced academic cooperation and helped bridge cultural gaps. However, he acknowledged challenges encountered during the partnership, most notably, visa acquisition difficulties that hindered students from continuing their studies in China. He called for the introduction of more flexible and streamlined travel procedures and advocated for the expansion of virtual learning platforms to ensure continued academic engagement.
Prof Boateng also emphasized the need to continuously revise academic content to align with evolving industry demands and trends in the maritime and logistics sector.
Prof Boateng (left) presenting RMU souvenirs to SMU representative
He stressed that responsiveness to industry shifts would ensure that graduates remain competitive and well-equipped for the global market.