Following the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) progress as a leading regional maritime academy offering a wide range of educational programs in addition to bachelor’s and master’s degrees, AASTMT lately achieved a new milestone, announcing that its programs are lectured in Greek College City Unity.
Speaking to “Robban Assafina”, about this agreement signed with City Unity College, headquartered in Athens, Academy’s president Professor Ismail Abdel Ghafar said: “The purpose of this agreement is the provision of AASTMT Maritime Academic Programs worldwide”.
He added: “The National Council for Education ESYP in Greece approved AASTMT’s academic programs. This has led to a protocol of cooperation signed between the Academy and City Unity College”.
The importance of such agreement, says Dr. Abdel Ghafar, “is offering our maritime academic programs globally, and this is part of achieving AASTMT Vision, to be a world class university in Maritime Transport and higher education in compliance with the international standards of education, scientific research, innovation and training”.
New branch, better expectations
Speaking of the Academy’s development plans and its new branch at New Alamein City, Egypt, Abdul Ghafar says: “the new branch will be a practical response in order to mobilize all energies in light of the knowledge-based economy and reinforce a culture of innovation and creativity to ensure economic growth sustainability.”
Stepping forward
Regarding his future vision for AASTMT, Dr. Abdel Ghafar believes that “according to the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities, AASTMT was ranked 2407 out of 24,000 universities worldwide (2016), thus achieving a quantum leap locally, regionally and globally.”
“We are proud of the Academy; it is a live example of the professional educational environment and the joint Arab action. Since its beginning, the Academy has been working to raise the educational level of students, and it is widely considered a platform to form and shape their personalities and improve their abilities. This surely contributes to their mental and intellectual structure, which is reflected positively on the Arab society.”
In parallel, Dr. Abdul Ghafar focused on the cooperation agreement with the Arab Maritime Petroleum Transport Co. (AMPTC), noting its importance as one of the practical strategic partnership between the Academy and various Arab maritime entities.
In his last words during the interview, Abdel Ghafar said that achieving scientific excellence was and will continue to be the Academy’s incentive despite global competitiveness. This is achieved by providing academic education programs that is not less significant than that offered by global universities across the United States and Europe. "The Academy has complied to modern scientific standards compatible with those applied in international universities in the field of academic education and research, as well as distinctive partnerships with international institutions and universities,” he concluded.