The University of Mumbai under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Professor Suhas Pednekar and the direction of Vice Chancellor Prof. Ravindra Kulkarni had established the Centre of Excellence in Maritime Studies (CEMAS) earlier this year. The centre was inaugurated online on 8 February 2021 by Governor of Maharashtra, Bhagat Singh Koshyari with the chief guests being Dr. Shekhar Mande, Director General, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Karambir Singh.
The centre is headed by Dr. Anuradha Majumdar, Dean, faculty of Science and Technology as In-charge Director. “Through this centre, the university is embarking towards bolstering higher education and research in maritime studies. The centre has an interdisciplinary focus, taking cognizance of the borderless realms of marine and maritime studies. This would, in turn, develop and expand maritime consciousness and perspective, which is an essential component for the national growth and development,” read the centers press release.
"CEMAS is starting three interdisciplinary programs in the academic year 2021-22 Masters programs in M.A. (Maritime Studies), M.Sc. (Maritime Studies) and M.Com. (Maritime Studies) and will be offering PG Diploma in Maritime Logistics and PhD programme (maritime Studies) in the future. The center envisions to empower learners with the knowledge, critical thinking skills, research acumen and focus required to address maritime challenges and harness the seas for furthering developmental goals, in an inclusive, integrated, and holistic manner," it explained further.
Highlighting the course curriculum, mode of learning and its centers salient features the center noted: "Curriculum delivery will work on a blended mode of Teaching and Learning, leveraging on the resource pools and expertise that are both, on site and off site for academics and research. This will help the centre to adapt to the very principles that are enshrined in the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
"The Centre is expected to attract both Indian and foreign students in this domain. CEMAS will have a broad based multi-disciplinary focus and will take cognizance of marine and maritime studies to cover the gamut of Maritime History, Security, Laws, Trade, Commerce, Logistics, Science and Technology.
“Centre will collaborate with other premium national and international organizations and institutes in the domain of marine and maritime to leverage on their strengths. The centre, therefore, through the University of Mumbai will help develop maritime consciousness, boost higher education, and recognize the centrality of Mumbai in national maritime growth. The experiential learning offered by CEMAS makes its programs unique and distinguishes CEMAS from other university studies.
"The centre has a panel of eminent and renowned members in the Board of Management and an eminent body of advisors from Navy, Mercantile Shipping and Commerce, Maritime Strategy, Maritime Law, Maritime History, Maritime and Marine Science and Technology to provide robust direction and pertinent mentoring.
“The interdisciplinary industry relevant curriculum of the M.Sc. (Maritime Studies), M.Com. (Maritime Studies) and M.A. (Maritime Studies) are following a choice-based credit system. Each programme is divided into four semesters in which the learner has to complete a total 12 courses covering subjects related to maritime and marine sciences and technology, maritime trade, commerce and law and Maritime Humanities, respectively, along with few interdisciplinary courses. In semester I, II and III, each learner will have to complete 3 core courses and one elective course.
"The programme will provide quality education in subjects related to national maritime growth and development, observe an interdisciplinary approach across humanities, law, commerce, management, science and technology to empower students with knowledge, focus and critical thinking skills to address maritime challenges and harness the seas in an inclusive, integrated and holistic manner, now and in the future.
"The syllabus of these courses is designed to be dynamic and contemporary that will aid concept learning to synergise field work, research with data analysis in both the mini and major project in semester II and IV, respectively. Learners will have to undertake a book review assignment in semester I as a prelude to the mini project of semester II. Similarly, learners will undertake the second book review in semester III as a literature survey groundwork for the project and dissertation of semester IV.
“Learners are expected to undertake case study, field work or laboratory experimentation to address contemporary problems and challenges associated with marine and maritime sciences. Learners will be encouraged to select projects related to regional and country relevant topics addressing current challenges, problems and provide analyses, find relevant new knowledge and solutions.
"Learners will be encouraged to select interdisciplinary projects. This will help learners to attain hands? on skills and experiential learning. The book reviews, mini term project and major project with dissertation will enable experiential learning through literature survey, field work, data collection, data analysis and laboratory experimentations.
"These programs will educate, train and groom graduates that are not only Industry ready but are also attuned to take on further higher education in research. These programs aim to create manpower to service the maritime and allied Industry which is expected to witness an upward trajectory with the recent favorable government policies and schemes in this sector.
"The USP of each of the programs is that the curriculum has been made of generic interdisciplinary subjects from Humanities, Science and Commerce in addition to core domain subjects, synergizing and blending learning and training comprising core and elective subjects,” concluded the press note.
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