Singapore’s quality workforce and robust infrastructure has attracted about 130 global maritime operators and 5,000 service producers to set up operations here.  To support the continued growth of our maritime industry, SMU is committed to meeting the sector’s need for competent local talents who have the aptitude, attitude and international outlook to succeed.

The university has recently joined forces with Copenhagen Business School (CBS) to collaborate on the development of their respective maritime programmes.  Under the partnership, students from both universities will participate in a structured exchange programme where they will eventually spend a full term at the partner university and benefit from a rich blend of academic knowledge and industry immersion.

SMU’s School of Economics and International Trading Institute@SMU launched the Maritime Economic Concentration (MEC) in Academic Year 2013 (which began in August 2013) with 24 students in its first cohort; CBS will be launching its Bachelor of Science (BSc) in International Shipping and Trade in Summer 2014.  Both programmes share the common objective and vision of developing skilled maritime talents through strong co-development with the private sector, as well as experiential learning through industry engagements, overseas study missions and international exchanges.

[Photo: Singapore Management University (left) and Copenhagen Business School (right) partner to groom the next generation of maritime talent in Singapore and Denmark.]

SMU President, Professor Arnoud De Meyer, and CBS President, Professor Per Holten-Andersen, officiated the partnership agreement at a Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony held last month.  The ceremony was witnessed by Her Excellency Berit Basse, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to Singapore.

SMU President, Professor Arnoud De Meyer, said, “We are honoured and pleased to partner with Copenhagen Business School to enhance our respective maritime programmes. This is an exceptional opportunity for the undergraduates from both universities to gain greater insights into and knowledge of the thriving maritime industries of both our countries, and broaden their academic and intellectual horizons. The exposure will certainly give them a competitive advantage in their future maritime careers.”

CBS President Professor Per Holten-Anderson said, “Internationalisation is one of the major forces shaping the Danish corporate sector. Therefore, CBS' strategy is to increase collaboration with important regions for knowledge and growth, and we are very pleased with our collaboration with SMU. Just like Denmark, Singapore has focused on building the best framework for the maritime sector and is a significant bridgehead for Danish business.”

[Photo: SMU is committed to meeting the Singapore maritime sector’s need for competent local talents who have the aptitude, attitude and international outlook to succeed.]

Her Excellency Berit Basse, who graced the ceremony, said that the collaboration had realised the intention of the MOU signed by the governments of the two countries in August 2012.

“Denmark and Singapore are important maritime nations and have developed a strong partnership in the shipping arena. Leading Danish shipping companies and related marine companies are well-established and well respected on the island and are significant contributors to the maritime ecosphere in Singapore.  This is only possible due to the continuous strong support of the host country.  I would like to congratulate SMU and CBS for having designed interesting programmes that offer global students cutting edge knowledge to equip them to deal with the challenges of the shipping industry of the future.  At the same time the programmes also offer them a cross-cultural learning environment which I am sure they will find rewarding,” said Her Excellency Berit Basse.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), which champions maritime manpower development in Singapore, has also lent support to SMU’s MEC initiative through seed funding of up to S$4.3 million.  Chief Executive of MPA, Mr Andrew Tan, said, “MPA is pleased to support SMU’s MEC initiative as it further contributes to the development of Singapore as an international maritime centre.  SMU’s partnership with CBS not only testifies to the strong linkages between both educational institutes but also highlights the value that Singapore’s maritime industry can offer to our partners such as Denmark.”

[Featured Photo: SMU President, Professor Arnoud De Meyer (left) and CBS President, Professor Per Holten-Andersen (right), officiating the partnership between the two universities.  The ceremony was witnessed by Her Excellency Berit Basse (middle), Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to Singapore.]