Students from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport in Sharjah (AASTS) recently took part in a webinar organized by the Federal Transport Authority for Land and Maritime as part of UN International Youth Day celebrations. Participation in this initiative is part of AASTS’ continuous efforts to adopt new methods that connect students with the maritime sector, which is one of key sectors that support the global economy and trade.
The webinar covered a wide range of topics tailored for the UAE’s next generation of mariners. The UAE’s role in training only high-caliber candidates to build the nation’s maritime capabilities was viewed as paramount. The range of state-of-the-art educational facilities was seen to be an important factor in attracting high-class talent. Bearing in mind the rapidly growing maritime, oil, gas, energy and offshore sectors it was recognized that it was necessary to attract more young people to the industry.
Yousif Yacoub Al-Mansouri, director, office of the chairman for the board of trustees, AASTS, said: “Acknowledging the importance of high-caliber students, AASTS strives to provide world-class facilities and education for our students and as such we are proud to be the first choice for maritime education in the UAE. The webinar demonstrated our students’ knowledge of the industry, especially in regard to commitment and social responsibility. It also encouraged innovative thinking, which is an essential skill to have in the maritime industry.”
Hessa Al-Malek, executive director of maritime transport at the Federal Transport Authority — Land and Maritime (FTA), said: “Maritime sector is one of the key pillars of our economy and to ensure we maintain the UAE’s global high ranking in the industry we have to focus on nurturing the mariners of the future. This kind of activity is necessary to stimulate young minds and promotes original thinking. We aim to help students explore future opportunities from a professional point of view, open up prospects for them to explore the possibilities of career development in the maritime sector, and encourage them to prepare for job requirements, both scientifically and academically.”
The webinar also touched on controversial topics including gender discrimination in the industry. More women are now taking up leadership positions such as sea captains and ship masters and it was agreed this was a first positive step.
