The longstanding co-operation between the Center for Maritime Economics and Logistics (MEL) at Erasmus University Rotterdam in The Netherlands and the Singapore educational and maritime business community is set to take a significant step forward in November. For that month will see the arrival at MEL of the first two students awarded the newly created “SMF-MEL Maritime Scholarships” to pursue the Dutch university’s prestigious Master's in Maritime Economics and Logistics.

Under an agreement between MEL and the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) announced earlier this year, the SMF will select and nominate two such students a year, for three years. Candidates have to be Singaporean citizens and students in maritime-related studies at Singaporean universities. “...the aim is to attract young outstanding talent to the maritime industry and raise awareness of the importance of maritime transport for the global economy and international trade...” stated Mr. Teo Siong Seng, Chairman of SMF.

The newly-created one-year scholarships basically involve MEL waiving full tuition (currently set at Euro 19,800 per student per academic year) for each student selected while the SMF supports them with a one-time return economy air fare and an allowance to help defray living costs in Rotterdam. “...the scholarships reflect an appreciation by MEL, the port of Rotterdam and the Netherlands as a whole of what Singapore is doing to promote itself as an international maritime center...” commented Professor Haralambides, Director of MEL. “Relations between the ports of Rotterdam and Singapore are already very strong and we see this development as another step towards strengthening the academic, educational and research links between us,” he added.

To qualify for the selection process, explained Professor Haralambides, candidates need to graduate with high grades. They then have to take part in three interviews, write an essay on a maritime subject, demonstrate a commitment to the maritime industry and indicate a moral obligation to remain in that industry after completing the one-year MSc course at MEL.