(NEWS) Sweden's Minister for Infrastructure and Housing Visits WMU

February

2026

Sweden's Minister for Infrastructure and Housing Visits WMU

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Left to Right: Shandle Techitong, Mustapha Ceesay, Mr. Andreas Carlson, Minister for Infrastructure and Housing of Sweden, Melissa Jones, and Professor Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr., President of WMU.

On 4 February, Mr. Andreas Carlson, Minister for Infrastructure and Housing of Sweden, was welcomed to the World Maritime University (WMU) by Professor Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr., President of WMU. The Swedish delegation also included Ms. Maria Gelin, Deputy Director-General,Transport Markets Division, Ministry of Rural Affairs and Infrastructure, who serves as an ex-officio member of the WMU Executive Board, and Mr. Stefan Sarmes, Political Adviser to the Minister. Senior WMU officials were also in attendance.

The visit provided an opportunity to brief the Minister on WMU’s mission, academic programmes, and global reach, highlighting the University’s contribution to global maritime and oceans capacity development. Appreciation was expressed to Sweden and the City of Malmö for generously hosting WMU and for their longstanding support, which enables the University to deliver advanced education in support of the global regulatory framework set out by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

In addition to WMU’s global role, discussions also focused on the University’s strong links to Sweden, including the Swedish Trust Fund that provides opportunities for Swedish students to pursue advanced maritime education at WMU, as well as broader engagement through events, policy dialogue, and international cooperation hosted in Sweden.

The delegation also interacted with WMU students who shared insights on their academic experience and the impact of WMU education on their professional development. Perspectives were provided by Mustapha Ceesay, President of the Student Council (Gambia), Melissa Jones, Vice-President of the Student Council (Belize), and Shandle Techitong (Palau). An informal dialogue followed, highlighting the shared understanding that, beyond technical expertise, WMU graduates return to their home countries with strong professional networks, enhanced institutional capacity, as well as a deep understanding of the international maritime regulatory framework

Sweden was recently re-elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO),underscoring the country’s continued leadership in international maritime affairs. Through WMU, Sweden contributes directly and effectively to strengthening global maritime governance by building the skills and expertise of maritime professionals who, upon returning to their home countries, play a critical role in both national and international contexts, strengthening maritime regulatory frameworks, policies, and infrastructure, while promoting the sustainable use of the world’s oceans.

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