Gdynia Maritime University GMU

This year's International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU) Annual General Assembly (AGA24) was held at Buzzard Bay, Massachusetts, USA on 7 and 8 October 2024. HM The Rector of Gdynia Maritime University, Professor Adam Weintrit, accompanied by representatives of the University's staff and students, was in attendance.

During the proceedings that took place on 7 October, changes were made to the Association's objectives and tasks and the acceptance of current projects carried out by individual consortia and research teams within the Association, as well as the award of scholarships. Research projects to be financed by the Nippon Foundation in the next edition were also approved. The respective heads of each of the committees and working groups presented their activity reports. Gdynia Maritime University, presented by Dr Piotr Kopacz, was one of nine universities to put forward their applications to organise the IAMU AGA 2026. The next Annual General Assembly will be held at the Faculty of Maritime Studies of the University of Split, Croatia, which was selcted from among the candidates.

The 2024 IAMU Annual General Assembly, chaired by GMU Rector Professor Adam Weintrit, then took place the next day on 8 October. During the assembly, the changes proposed by the IEB were approved and the budget adopted for the next financial period. This was followed by the traditional gathering of the heads of Maritime Universities - the so-called President's Forum. This event was hosted by the President of Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Rear Admiral Francis X. McDonald.

Next, the GMU delegation (11 persons, including six students) took part in this year's IAMU conference entitled: Protecting Our Mariners – Promoting Our Industry – Providing for the Future. Professor Adam Przybyłowski represented our University as a member of the Conference's International Scientific Programme Committee. Dr Piotr Kopacz, Dr Krzysztof Wróbel, Dr Kamil Formela, and Paweł Kołakowski each presented academic papers at the event. Paulina Wolska also presented her paper in the part dedicated to the students.

The participation of the GMU delegation in these events provided opportunities for numerous meetings and discussions, during which HM The Rector of GMU, Professor Adam Weintrit, discussed potential initiatives and projects that could be carried out in the future within the framework of IAMU.

The next IAMU General Assembly is scheduled to take place in October 2025 at the AMET University, Chennai, India.