On April 29, 2025, the 15th anniversary symposium of the joint Logistics Management undergraduate cooperative education program between Shanghai Maritime University (SMU) and the Regional Maritime University (RMU) was held at RMU in Ghana. SMU Vice President Yin Ming, along with representatives from the International Office, International Education College, and College of Transport & Communications, attended the event online. SMU faculty members Liu Ding, Yang Jinhua, and Zheng Wenjia, who taught in Ghana, participated. RMU Dean of Maritime Studies Dr. Nana Ofosu-Boateng, university representatives, alumni, and student delegates gathered together to review the program’s achievements, summarize outcomes, and chart future development.
Vice President Yin Ming traced the partnership’s origins. In 2008, SMU established cooperation ties with RMU. Supported by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and China’s Ministry of Transport, the two universities signed a cooperation framework in 2010, later approved by China’s Ministry of Education as Shanghai’s first overseas undergraduate program awarding Chinese diplomas. The program follows a “2+1+1” model: students study in Ghana for two years, spend their third year at SMU in Shanghai for coursework and internships, then return to Ghana for their final year. Since 2011, SMU has dispatched faculty to teach in Ghana. By 2023, the renewed agreement optimized the curriculum. To date, 346 graduates from Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, and other nations have emerged, with 266 employed in logistics, trade, Chinese enterprises, or African education sectors, serving as bridges for the Belt and Road Initiative and China-Africa cultural exchange.
Dr. Nana Ofosu-Boateng, RMU Dean of Maritime Studies and an SMU alumnus, expressed pride in witnessing the partnership’s growth. He highlighted the program as a model of international education and a platform for academic and cultural exchange, empowering West and Central African youth with professional skills and global competitiveness. He urged students to seize opportunities in China to broaden their horizons and called for deeper research collaboration between the institutions.
RMU Academic Registrar, Mr. Jones Addai-Marfo lauded the program’s 15-year journey, commending the universities’ pragmatic cooperation and thanking contributors for their dedication. He encouraged students to excel on the global stage.
Fifteen years of perseverance have led to remarkable progress, and a new journey begins in the new era. This project has become a successful example of China-Africa educational cooperation and cultural exchange. Standing at a new historical starting point, both universities will adhere to the principles of “extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits,” continuously injecting new momentum into the global shipping and logistics talent cultivation, and contributing wisdom and strength to building a China-Africa community of shared destiny.
