World Maritime University (WMU), Malmö

Postal address: PO Box 500, SE-201 24 Malmö, Sweden
Visiting address: Citadellsvägen 29, Malmö
Web page: www.wmu.se

The World Maritime University (WMU) operates under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations. WMU thus enjoys the status, privileges and immunities of a UN institution in Sweden. It is truly an organization by and for the international maritime community. Established by an IMO Assembly Resolution in July 1983, its basic aim is to further enhance the objectives and goals of IMO and IMO member states around the world.

MSc programme with South Asian participants

Since its foundation in 1983, WMU has established an excellent reputation as a global centre for advanced education and research in the maritime field.  It offers high-quality professional education that provides students with a unique insight into the maritime sector. WMU offers only postgraduate degrees: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Master of Science (MSc), and Postgraduate Diploma (PGD). In Malmö, a program is offered leading to a Master of Science in Maritime Affairs.  Students can specialise in one of six areas: Maritime Safety & Environmental Administration, Maritime Law & Policy, Marine Environmental & Ocean Management, Port Management, Shipping Management and Maritime Education & Training.

Every year a good number of students from South Asia pass through the MSc programme. In the class of 2011, consisting of 168 students from 46 countries, four came from India, three from Bangladesh, two from Maldives, and one each from Pakistan and Sri Lanka. On Sunday 4 December 2011, they celebrated their Graduation ceremony at the Concert Hall in Malmö. SASNET was represented at the ceremony by deputy director Lars Eklund and his wife Bubu Munshi Eklund. More information.

WMU also offers a PhD programme in Maritime Administration in Malmö. Another PhD programme in Maritime Law or International Commercial Law is taught jointly with the Swansea University in Britain.

In February 2013 WMU signed an MoU with AMET University in Chennai, India, regarding exchange of faculty, education, training and research. The photo to the right is showing (left to right) Professor Björn Kjerfve, President, WMU, Capt. S. Bhardwaj, Professor Emeritus, AMET University, and Professor Neil Bellefontaine, Vice President (Academics), WMU, signing the MoU. 

Professor Olof Lindén holds the Nippon Chair in Marine Environmental Management at WMU since 2003. He also holds a part time professorship in Coastal Management at the School of Pure and Applied Natural Sciences, Linnaeus University in Kalmar. During the period 1989-2006 Olof Linden coordinated several multi-national scientific projects including the Sida - supported Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Development Programme, and the Sida/World Bank/Finland supported CORDIO programme for the study of climate change in the Indian Ocean. Dr. Linden has worked extensively for the World Bank and several UN-agencies on projects related to marine environmental management. 
At the World Maritime University, Olof Linden coordinates research projects related to oil spill contincency planning, marine environmental management and the management of ballast water. He teaches Marine Environment and Ocean Management (MEOM Specialization).

South Asian Faculty 

Assistant Professor Rajendra Prasad came to WMU as a Lecturer and Research Fellow in 1998, and from 2008 he is an Assistant Professor at the World Maritime University. On 23 November 2011, he successfully defended his PhD thesis, entitled "The Role of Collaborative Learning in Promoting Safety in Shipboard Machinery Spaces". The Examination Board was chaired by the former Director of the Doctoral Programmes, Professor Mukherjee (on behalf of Professor Olof Lindén) and the two External Examiners were Professor Darrel Fisher, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University and Professor Stephen Cross, Maritime University Willem Barntsz. Mr. Prasad's supervisor and co-supervisor Professor Takeshi Nakazawa and Associate Professor Max Mejia, were also present. Since 2012 Professor Prasad is retired and back in his native Mumbai. 

Professor Proshanto K. Mukherjee is Director of Doctoral Programmes and ITF Professor of Maritime Safety and Environmental Protection. He is also Co-Director of the WMU/Lund University joint LL.M. programme and is Honourary Research Fellow of Swansea University (SU) and Academic Coordinator of the joint WMU/SU Ph.D. programme in Maritime and Commercial Law. Besides, he is Chancellor of CINEC Maritime Campus, Colombo, Sri Lanka.