IMarEST awards first Certificate of Excellence to Bangladesh Marine Academy

The Bangladesh Marine Academy has been awarded the Certificate of Excellence by The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) to recognise the exceptional quality of its maritime education and training provision.

The academy is the first to be awarded the certification, a joint initiative developed in partnership with The Nautical Institute (NI), which is available to academies and other educational bodies that offer training in marine-related subjects. By gaining this certificate, successful establishments show they foster professionalism, employ good teachers and provide an engaging, well-resourced learning environment supported by sound management. This independent seal of approval helps prospective students make an informed choice on where to study.

IMarEST Chief Executive, David Loosley, said:

“The IMarEST has a long-standing reputation for accrediting academic courses and training programmes across marine engineering, science and technology subjects worldwide. Our intention is to extend our capability to approve not just the courses, but the establishment itself by introducing a Certificate of Excellence.  Working with the Nautical Institute – a highly respected maritime body – this initiative supports one of our main strategic goals of promoting professionalism by setting standards and ensuring best practice across the sector.” 

The approval scheme uses the extensive experience that both Institutes have gained over the years in evaluating individual courses. It ensures that the establishment delivers both the expected quality and depth of instruction students need to embark on a successful maritime career and that they equip the industry with people who have the skills required for sustainable growth. The certificate is open to traditional educational establishments as well as dedicated commercial training providers.

Dr Sajid Hussain, Commandant, Bangladesh Marine Academy, added:

“This certification recognises nearly six decades of our maritime educational excellence and has elevated the academy to a higher level of international professional recognition. From now onwards we will carry the badge of ‘IMarEST & NI Approved Certificate of Excellence’, which will give us a competitive international image. Needless to say that Bangladesh Marine Academy is proud to be the world’s first Institution to earn such a coveted status from IMarEST & NI. With our mission to ‘develop world-class maritime leaders’, the academy strives to offer the highest levels of maritime education, leadership and research for young boys and girls to become maritime professionals for national and international shipping fleets and trade.” 

Assessors look at several key areas in their evaluation, reviewing the level of performance required to gain a qualification from the organisation, evaluating how well students are supported by the staff and resources and checking whether the organisation follows the correct processes to ensure quality.

About the IMarEST:

The IMarEST is an international learned society and membership body that brings marine engineers, marine scientists and marine technologists together into one multi-disciplinary professional body. The largest marine organisation of its kind, it spans 128 countries and works to promote the scientific development of marine engineering, science and technology, providing opportunities for the exchange of ideas and practices and upholding the status, standards and expertise of marine professionals worldwide. Members are able to gain professional registration through the Institute (such as Technician, Incorporated, Registered or Chartered status). The IMarEST is an NGO with consultative status at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and observer status at the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, International Hydrographic Organization, the London Convention/London Protocol (LC/LP) and the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP). It has special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC), which facilitates its access to other international intergovernmental meetings where its specialized marine expertise is of particular use, e.g., the United Nations meetings on Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the work of the International Seabed Authority on marine mining. w: www.imarest.org