From November 16 to 25, a delegation from Shanghai Maritime University (SMU), led by Cao Rongrui, Vice Chairman of the Shanghai Maritime University Council, visited Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The delegation visited over ten government departments, universities, and industry enterprises, including Nam Hai Dinh Vu Port Company Limited, Vietnam Maritime University, Saigon Newport Corporation, Best Inc. (Vietnam), Indonesian National Shipowners Association (INSA), Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Pelayaran (STIP) (the Indonesian Maritime Academy under the Ministry of Transportation), Akademi Maritim Indonesia (AMI) in Jakarta, the Directorate General of Sea Transportation of the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation, Indonesian shipping companies such as PT Berlian Laju Tanker Tbk, and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT). This visit aimed to implement China’s national strategies of building a strong maritime country and a strong shipping nation, focusing on cultivating talent for the “Belt and Road” initiative. It facilitated exchanges and discussions on maritime education, academic research, and standard mutual recognition, achieving a series of positive outcomes.
Firstly, the visit served to deepen cooperation networks with related maritime institutions. The delegation visited major ASEAN maritime universities, including Vietnam Maritime University, Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Pelayaran (STIP), Akademi Maritim Indonesia (AMI) in Jakarta, and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. Cao Rongrui signed Memoranda of Understanding with Vice President Nguyen Minh Duc of Vietnam Maritime University and President Mohd Zamri Ibrahim of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, respectively, achieving substantive progress in areas such as joint student cultivation, faculty exchanges, and scientific research collaboration. Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Pelayaran (STIP) plans to select students from its master’s program, commissioned by the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation, to study at SMU. The visited institutions expressed strong interest in SMU’s “Belt and Road” Talent Cooperation and Development Project and expressed willingness to participate as overseas partner institutions. Furthermore, several institutions showed keen interest in the “Belt and Road” Maritime Education Alliance initiated by SMU, indicating their intention to join as founding members when conditions mature, thereby supporting the construction of an educational network for maritime institutions in regional countries.
Secondly, the delegation worked to promote channels for seafarer training and certification with relevant maritime authorities. Cao Rongrui led the delegation in a meeting with the Directorate General of Sea Transportation of the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation. They held in-depth discussions with Director of Ships and Seafarers, Hasan Satedi, and relevant department heads, along with the Indonesian Shipowners Association, focusing on issues such as enhancing seafarer competencies and the recognition of overseas learning experiences. The relevant parties expressed their commitment to actively promoting the recognition of Indonesian students’ academic experiences and grades obtained while studying in SMU’s navigation-related undergraduate programs, as well as the subsequent certification of related seafarer certificates upon their return to Indonesia. It was suggested that follow-up discussions would address specific details, with a view to signing an MoU at an appropriate time and jointly developing high-end maritime technical training and joint cultivation programs for senior officers.
Thirdly, the visit involved actively planning the layout for international industry-university-research collaboration. Cao Rongrui led the delegation in a visit to the Indonesian National Shipowners Association. They held in-depth exchanges with Darmansyah Tanamas, Secretary General of INSA, and the heads of its Seafarer, Coastal Shipping, Maritime Education, and Fleet Financing & Development departments, culminating in the signing of a Letter of Intent. This agreement aims to facilitate SMU faculty and students undertaking internships and practical training with members of the Indonesian Shipowners Association. Simultaneously, discussions were held with the Association regarding the potential establishment of an overseas training center or learning center to conduct degree programs, short-term training, and joint research in maritime education. Nguyen Trung Doan, Deputy Director of Hai Phong Nam Dinh Vu Port (Vietnam), and Nguyen Thanh A, Training Center Manager of Saigon New Port, both expressed willingness to engage in practical cooperation with SMU in areas including degree education, short-term training, and scientific research and technological innovation. Indonesian companies such as PT Berlian Laju Tanker Tbk expressed intentions to initiate pilot cooperation projects with the university to jointly cultivate senior officers.
This visit covered over ten key entities across three Southeast Asian countries. With clear objectives and focused projects, the visit achieved positive progress in various areas including talent cultivation and training, academic research, and industry-university-research collaboration. These outcomes will effectively support the optimization of SMU’s international cooperation layout and contribute to serving the construction of the Shanghai International Shipping Center and China’s national strategies of building a strong shipping nation and a strong maritime country.
Representatives from SMU’s Development Planning and Quality Management Office, International Office, and Merchant Marine College accompanied the delegation during the visit.
