Yasser Al Wahedi, Director, Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy • Interview
The Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy has sought to position itself as the leading maritime education and maritime training provider in the region.
With the UAE’s first fully equipped Maritime Simulator Centre, how is the Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy pioneering technology and innovative education methods within maritime training?
Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy pioneered cloud simulator access in a firstof-its-kind in the region trial in 2020. In 2021, we plan to expand the use of simulators via the cloud by first obtaining the regulatory approval and integrating simulator cloud access as a standard delivery tool in our programs.
How has this been catalyzed by the COVID-19 outbreak and its consequent impacts?
When government regulations restricted our physical training sessions, the academy moved to accelerate its future digital transformation by taking the necessary steps to enable greater online course participation via the cloud. Currently, we have successfully obtained regulatory approval on delivering lectures via cloud-based tools. Our next evolutionary step lies, as mentioned earlier, in cloudbased simulator access.
Staying within the context of accelerating technology integration in the maritime sector, how is this changing the necessary skill set for human talent and the future generation of maritime leaders?
Technology is revolutionizing both the industry, and maritime training and Abu Dhabi is spearheading regional efforts to embrace its potential. In 2020, we partnered with leading global technology expert, Vistrato, which offers specialized professional development and online training modules for dry bulk ports and terminals. By deploying its highly engaging, scenario-based training techniques, we are confident Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy is ideally positioned to achieve desired outcomes that educate and evaluate owners and operators of dry bulk ports and terminals across the region.
Can you elaborate on the academy’s regional ambitions and efforts to attract talent from across the Middle East and Southeast Asia regions?
From the outset, Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy has dedicated itself to elevating the Emirate’s knowledge economy and positioned itself as leading maritime education and maritime training provider both in the UAE and across the region. The involvement of multinational board members should further accelerate the dissemination of Academy services across the region.
How do you balance this with recent calls for localization of industries across the Emirate and the UAE?
At the academy, our endeavor is simultaneously providing high-quality local service and expanding regionally and internationally. Such an approach addresses the call for localization while removing the expansion constraints.
Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy works extensively across the maritime and other related sectors, including transport, logistics, and energy. How does such collaboration compound the academy’s impact on Abu Dhabi’s broader trade and economic ambitions?
Since our establishment in 2012, we have worked tirelessly to develop a holistic offering that benefits various sectors of the national economy. ADMA partners with influential world-recognized industry bodies and organizations such as the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA), the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) and the National Association of Freight and Logistics (NASL) to offer their professional development programs in the fields of shipping management, chartering, brokering, freight and logistics, maritime security, and vessel traffic services, which are in addition to our specialization in port and vessel feasibility and maneuvering simulation. Earlier this year, we were proud to agree on a framework for NASL to further enhance the UAE’s logistics education and training standards. This will be accomplished by providing specialized trainers to head up the development and delivery of courses that result in industry recognized certifications and diplomas upon completion.
What are your strategic priorities for Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy, and what insights will you and the maritime industry take from this once-in-a-generation event?
The COVID-19 challenge has focused us toward recognizing the key aspect for survival in the future: cloud-based services. By transforming the Academy into a platform offering training courses, simulator instances, and consultancy tools to partners and freelancers, we aim to charter a bold new evolutionally journey for the academy by transforming it from a conventional academic institution with limited local reach into a global cloud-based platform. We firmly believe that cloud delivery will enable this transformation.