IAMU/AGA24 Conference - Attending GMU Students Give their Impressions
From 7 to 12 October 2024, a delegation from Gdynia Maritime University, led by HM The Rector of Gdynia Maritime University Professor Adam Weintrit took part in proceedings and the conference at the International Maritime Association's Annual General Assembly 2024 (IAMU/AGA24). The General Assembly was chaired by Professor Adam Weintrit, the Chair of IAMU.
This year's General Assembly and Conference took place in Bourne, MA in the USA and the campus of Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and also included a study visit to the port in Boston.
Both events, the General Assembly, dedicated to the future of global maritime education, and the Conference, an excellent opportunity for the exchange of experiences on a global scale, contributed significantly to the enhancement of cooperation between IAMU member universities in maritime education and training.
Representing GMU were:
- Professor Adam Weintrit
- Dr/Captain Piotr Kopacz
- Dr Kamil Formela and
- Captain Paweł Kołakowski - Department of Navigation
- Dr Adam Przybyłowski - Department of Transport
They took part in discussions, sessions, after sessions and in the presentation of projects at the student part of the conference, asking the speakers important questions. Rector Professor Adam Weintrit also had the opportunity to visit a new training ship, Patriot State, which arrived from Philadelphia on its maiden voyage.
In addition, Professor Piotr Kopacz received the award for the best-prepared review as part of the evaluation of IAMU research projects. Certificates of recognition were received by Professor Agnieszka Lazarowska, an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Computer Science, and Professor Piotr Kopacz for their evaluation of applications for funding of IAMU research projects. Dr Adam Przybyłowski received certificates in recognition of his outstanding service and work as both a reviewer and as a member of the International Program Committee for the IAMU AGA24 event.
Honorably representing the student community at GMU were:
- Wiktoria Dumińska and Jakub Kulbat - Faculty of Navigation
- Engineering Officer Patrycja Boratyńska, Przemysław Blicharski and Engineering Officer Szymon Jabłoński - Faculty of Marine Engineering
Also representing GMU was:
- Paulina Wolska - Faculty of Marine Engineering
who gave a presentation entitled: Effectiveness of ship evasive manoeuvre enhanced by a comprehensive radar report, prepared with Aleksandrą Żywuszko of the Faculty of Navigation under the guidance of Captain Piotr Kopacz.
The students took part in panels, project presentations, and sessions and workshops on modern leadership. The participation of GMU students was made possible thanks to the financial support of the Secretary-General of InterManager - an international trade association for the ship and crew management sector, Captain Kuba Szymański.
GMU delegates took part in the opening and closing ceremonies which summarised the conference and the work of the Presidium and the IAMU Committees, as well as less formal events, including an integration trip on the more-than-one-hundred-year-old schooner, the SSV ERNESTINA-MORRISSEY, on the waters of Buzzards Bay, and finally on a trip to Boston, where they learned about the history and architecture of the city.
In particular, the trip on the sailing ship will no doubt remain in the memory of the participants for a long time due to the friendly atmosphere on board, valuable talks with maritime students and staff from all over the world, and the phenomenal weather conditions. The delegation spent their free time getting to know Bourne, Buzzards Bay, and Boston, including visiting the USS Constitution (the oldest warship still in service), the university campuses at MIT, and Harvard panoramic views of the city from Prudential Tower.
Participation IAMU/AGA24 conference was certainly connected with the intensive involvement of GMU representatives in the various panels of the event. Several important discussions and debates were held on the future development of the international maritime education system, during which the opinions presented by our University, as well as its achievements, were observed and respected.
Szymon Jabłoński
Faculty of Marine Engineering
