Regional Maritime University to teach Asian languages
The Regional Maritime University (RMU) will introduce the study of Asian languages, such as Chinese and Japanese, as university-wide courses beginning from the 2018/2019 academic year.
The course is to equip the university's seagoing students with functional Chinese and Japanese languages to enable them to work on board Asian vessels.
It will also enable the non-seagoing students to take up jobs with Asian companies.
The Vice Chancellor of RMU, Professor Elvis Nyarko, who announced this at the 15th matriculation ceremony of the university in Accra, said all students enrolled in the university would learn those languages to at least the intermediate level.
He said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to give meaning to the idea would soon be entered into with the concerned embassies.
Admission
Prof. Nyarko said the school offered admission to 754 applicants from both member and non-member countries, out of which 509, representing 67.5 per cent, accepted and had thus registered.
“The number of students enrolled is made up of 422 males (83 per cent) and 87 (17 per cent) females. This is an increase of over 169 students compared to last year’s figure of 340,” he said.
According to Mr Nyarko, the university has continued to focus on its pursuit of excellence in teaching, research and service to society as enshrined in its vision and mission.
"The RMU continues to pride itself as a globally branded university for education, research and consultancy in maritime and allied fields and also strives to be the best institution in Africa providing world-class education, research and consultancy in maritime to support development in member states and beyond," he added.
He urged the students to immediately settle down to work and come out with flying colours.
Prof. Nyarko advised the students to ensure that their aim was never “to dress to kill,’ as is commonly said, and as for the gentlemen, they know what to do.”
Govt support
A Deputy Minister for Transport, Mr Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover, said the ministry was in the process of coming up with a programme that would allow students from the university to get job placements with some shipping companies.
He said there were a number of programmes the government would soon bring on board to enable the RMU to attain its development goals, especially in giving students quality training.
Concerning the encroachment on the university's land, Mr Titus-Glover said the ministry would engage the Teshie Traditional Council to address the challenges and others raised by the management.
