Ocean’s economy building international linkages

The World Ocean Council (WOC) held their annual summit in Rotterdam, Netherlands between 30 November - 2 December 2016. The theme “Ocean 2030: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Ocean Business Community” deliberately wanted to interpret the United Nations 2016-2030 SDGs into actionable targets for representatives from shipping, oil and gas, fisheries, aquaculture, ports, mining, finance, renewable offshore energy, tourism, marine technology and other key ocean stakeholders.

Dr Jessica Fraser, who lectures Operations Management and Integrated Management Practice at the NMMU Business School, was invited to address a special workshop for Young Ocean Professionals about the SDG5 (to promote gender equality), SDG 8 (to promote sustainable economic growth), SDG 14 (to conserve and sustainably use the ocean) and SDG17 (to strengthen the means of implementation). Local follow-up research in collaboration with business school students (who represent stakeholder industries) will feature in future conferences (see www.samss2017.co.za and http://www.sstconference.org.za/ ).

One of the speakers from the WOC summit visited the NMMU campus on the 22 February 2017. The President of the World Maritime University (based in Malmö, Sweden), Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry was accompanied by a representative of the Department of Transport, Ms Tsepiso Toana-Mashiloane. Dr Doumbia-Henry visited the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Derik Swartz, to build on the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed between the NMMU and the WMU three years ago. Meetings with other academic staff will facilitate future collaborative projects in law, ports and shipping and other maritime related issues.

[Left to right: Mr Yusuf Adam (NMMU); Ms Tsepiso Taona-Mashiloane; Dr Jessica Fraser; Prof Andrew Leitch, NMMU DVC Academic; WMU President, Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry and Dr Nico Jooste, NMMU International Office Director).

The Business School is supporting the NMMU’s overall vision of the new Ocean Sciences campus, where academia, industry, communities and the public sector can integrate efforts to make our economy financially, socio-economically and environmentally sustainable. Other international linkages within the blue economy include the transfer of skills by sending NMMU students to Southampton, Shanghai and Gothenburg. Feel free to e-mail jessica.fraser@nmmu.ac.za with questions or comments.