WMU Board of Governors to review outcome of external strategic review as University celebrates its Silver Jubilee

This year, the World Maritime University (WMU), which was established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), in Malmö, Sweden, in 1983, celebrates its Silver Jubilee. A commemorative meeting of the University's Board of Governors, on 4 June 2008, will coincide with a Conference on the Impact of Climate Change on the Maritime Industry (2 to 4 June 2008) to address the specific consequences of climate change on a wide range of operational aspects of maritime and coastal activities.

Among other things, the Board of Governors will consider the outcome of an external strategic review, commissioned by it and the WMU Executive Council in 2006, to examine the University's current arrangements, from a governance and oversight perspective, while taking into account, and building on, as necessary, the outcomes of two earlier academic audits of WMU by the Association of European Universities. The strategic review was undertaken by a team of three independent international experts, familiar with the University and other academic institutions, as well as international shipping matters, and was supported by a resource person from Sweden.

The report of the review team was considered extensively by the WMU Executive Council in February 2008 and covered recommendations on topics such as: the reform of the University's Board of Governors and Executive Council; the internal workings of a reformed Executive Council; the consequential need for a revision of the University's Charter and other internal regulations; human resource issues, including the review of the salary of the University's professional staff; the denomination of salaries in Euros rather than United States dollars; and continued co operation with the City of Malmö in reviewing the University's future requirements in terms of space and facilities.

Taking into account the wide-ranging nature of the review team's recommendations, the Executive Council considered that it would be in the best interests of the University if their implementation were to be undertaken by a new management and, to that effect, it decided that a new President should be appointed as from 1 January 2009, with the selection process for a successor being initiated in the second half of this year. Additionally, it recommended that the Board of Governors use the opportunity of the forthcoming WMU Silver Jubilee celebrations to express its deep appreciation to WMU President Dr. K. Laubstein, for his meritorious services to the University and to bestow on him the title of "President Emeritus". The Executive Council further decided that a Working Group, led by the Chairman of the IMO Council, should develop an action plan and timeline for the implementation of the review team's recommendations. The decisions of the Executive Council will also be considered by the Board of Governors next month.

Regarding the University's financial management, the review team has noted that the University's external auditors - the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, which is also the external auditor of the International Maritime Organization - has consistently given unqualified opinions in relation to the University's accounts.

Briefing 17/ 2008 8 May 2008

Source: IMO