Sharjah, UAE, Business News: The Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport Branch in Sharjah (AASTS) has opened admissions for the Spring semester 2022. Registration is open for holders of high school certificates or equivalent.
The Academy has witnessed huge interest from a large number of aspiring male and female students to join the two disciplines AASTS currently offers; Bachelor of Marine Engineering Technology + a 3rd Engineer Certificate of Competency, and Bachelor of Maritime Transport Technology + 2nd Mate Certificate of Competency in Shipping and Port Operations and Offshore service technology. Both disciplines qualify graduates to work in shipping, port operations, and offshore support services.
AASTS plays a vital role in providing maritime education and training in the GCC and the Middle East, producing competent industry professionals from the UAE and abroad. AASTS is a distinguished educational institution that attracts hundreds of students each year, and enjoys a prestigious international reputation in maritime learning. The Sharjah branch is comparable in size and equipment with the Academy’s main branch in Alexandria, Egypt.
H.E. Prof Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghaffar Ismail Farag, President of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport said, “The UAE’s leadership has made a significant investment in facilitating the establishment of world-class capabilities in scientific research, education, and training in the maritime industry by establishing the Academy’s branch in Sharjah. The branch is expected to become the academic house of expertise for the industry in the region and produce high-quality graduates with the ability to drive the future of the industry. Our responsibility towards achieving this goal has become bigger with the re-election of the UAE to the IMO Council in Category B by receiving the majority votes from member states. This consensus from the majority of countries underlines the UAE’s elevated rank in the global marine industry. This motivates us to exert greater effort to produce highly-qualified individuals who are the key components of excellence in this sector.”
Farag added, “At AASTS, we have designed our educational curricula to keep pace with the UAE’s strategic plans in the ‘Projects of the 50’. These projects focus on increasing the UAE’s exports and expanding the global reach of its products, where shipping plays a pivotal role. They also aim to enhance Emiratisation across vital sectors, especially in the private sector. We actively contribute to these goals by providing high-quality education and training programmes delivered by top professors and instructors. We ensure that the Academy’s graduates have the skills required in the job market to work in prestigious and high-paying jobs that match the high level of education and leadership capabilities they have received.”
In a short period, the Academy has succeeded in gaining recognition and appreciation by key players in the UAE’s marine sector. AASTS signed an MoU with the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment to become the educational arm in all matters related to developing the UAE’s blue economy capabilities. The Academy also cooperates with other government and private sector organisations to provide specialised training courses. In collaboration with the Dubai Police, AASTS has developed a professional diploma in maritime security. These partnerships contribute to enhancing the capabilities of the government services in the UAE, leveraging its strategic location and rich natural resources to build a sustainable blue economy and protect the marine environment. It also facilitates opportunities for international investments, thereby increasing the demand for national maritime competencies.
Dr. Capt. Ahmed Youssef, Associate Dean, College of Maritime Transport and Technology, AASTS, said, “The maritime industry is witnessing a strong demand for graduates of Maritime Transport Technology and Marine Engineering Technology, especially from among the UAE nationals. The Academy’s graduates can find quality jobs in sectors such as the navy, government services, and police agencies across the country. Oil companies with offshore fields, shipping and ship management companies, local and international classification bodies, as well as other organisations in the maritime sector also require the expertise of our graduates. In short, the job opportunities for our graduates are limitless.”
Opportunities for the Academy’s graduates go beyond onboarding ships. They can work in key positions in shipping, ship management, logistics companies, port operations as well as in research and development and training.
The Academy holds a distinguished position through its teaching discipline and developing leadership skills, which makes the graduates highly capable of succeeding in their future careers. This has prompted many Emiratis who completed their national service to join the Academy to start their careers in this promising sector.
Distinguished student life
To motivate students to achieve academic excellence, AASTS provides an ideal environment for student life through the rich education and academic facilities. The Academy provides separate dormitories for male and female students, equipped with world class recreational facilities that are supervised by professional teams to ensure the highest levels of comfort and safety for students. AASTS also encourages its students to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and features sports facilities such as swimming pools, training and fitness equipment.
With the percentage of enrolled female students accounting for 40% of the total number of students, AASTS has the highest percentage of females compared to other maritime academies. The Academy aims to carry its top position forward through a range of initiatives. It is keen on connecting its students with leaders in the local and regional maritime industry, organise field trips and virtual participation in all trade and professional maritime events, and host experts to engage with the students and inform them about opportunities in the maritime sector.
