WMU was established in 1983 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations. Its mission is to be the world centre of excellence in postgraduate maritime and oceans education, professional training and research, while building global capacity and promoting sustainable development. WMU graduates are specially equipped to implement effectively international maritime and oceans treaties.
The Malmö, Sweden based Mater of Science in Maritime Affairs offers seven specializations: Maritime Education & Training, Maritime Safety & Environmental Administration, Maritime Energy Management, Maritime Law & Policy, Port Management, Shipping Management & Logistics, and Ocean Sustainability, Governance & Management.
WMU continues to expand its programmes to ensure that it continues to meet its mandate to support one of the most globalized sectors in a rapidly changing maritime world. WMU also offers MSc programmes in China, has a growing PhD programme in Malmö, an LLM and Postgraduate Diplomas by distance learning, and an MPhil degree offered jointly with the IMO International Maritime Law Institute in Malta. WMU also has a strong research portfolio, in areas such as mitigating invasive species in the arctic, risk assessment, Maritime Spatial Planning, and e-navigation. During this 35th anniversary year in 2018, WMU officially inaugurated the WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (Global Ocean Institute). The new Institute is an independent focal point for ocean-related dialogue and capacity-building.
WMU graduates hold senior positions in their countries, including as government ministers, directors of maritime administration, commandants of coast guards and naval organizations, managing shipping companies and ports, and as directors of national maritime academies. They wield significant influence in their countries and in today’s maritime, ports and logistics sectors.
