An inception meeting for the Friends of WMU Germany took place on 05 February 2020 in Hamburg during which 17 Founding Members, in the presence of WMU President Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, formally established the Association. “Friends of WMU Germany” is a cross-sectoral, collaborative platform for WMU supporters from German academia, industry and the public sector. It is intended as a network of stakeholders who actively want to support WMU in various ways – through dialogue and by providing inputs to the teaching and research priorities, through collaborative research with PhD and MSc students, by hosting field studies, by lecturing at WMU or in any other suitable ways that can raise awareness for WMU in Germany or support WMU in its mission. As the second largest provider of fellowships, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and partners in the German maritime industry have supported more than 300 students, including the Class of 2020. Among the maritime leaders financed by Germany is Mr. Kitack Lim, the current Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization.
