Maritime students at Plymouth University will have greater opportunities to network with each other and industry professionals following the establishment of a new student society.
Open to those on all maritime-related programmes, the Plymouth International Maritime and Shipping Student Society (PIMSSS) is aimed at creating bonds which will continue long after students have completed their academic programmes.
But it will also hold events and welcome distinguished guests, to boost its members experience and help them gain a wider insight of an industry which is constantly changing.
The new society was launched at an event in Mast House, home to the Plymouth Graduate School of Management, on Friday 27 February.
Among the guest speakers invited to attend were Claudio Chiste of Investec, a shipping finance firm based in London, and Lieutenant Commander Jacqueline Sherriff MBE of the EU Navy, who spoke on anti-piracy measures.
Student Minas Chryssochoidis, PIMSSS Co-Chairman, said:
“There are many student societies, but we felt that a maritime-related one was missing at Plymouth University, especially considering that our University is one of the world leaders when it comes to maritime education. Its esteem was illustrated by the visit of the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation in early February. The response so far has been overwhelmingly positive and we are sure this society will continue to improve as every year new people and ideas come into play.”
Plymouth University has a rich and prestigious heritage in maritime education, being able to trace its roots back to the Plymouth School of Navigation, which was founded in 1862.
Awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2012 in recognition of its marine and maritime teaching and research, it has thousands of graduates working in the commercial shipping industry while, through a partnership with the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, the University helps to educate the naval officers of the future.
The PIMSSS launch event also celebrated its inauguration as the South West branch of the Shipping Professionals Network London, through which university staff, students and local professionals in the maritime industry will be able to connect on a professional basis.
Jingjing Xu, Professor of Maritime Law and Economy at Plymouth University, said:
“I am deeply touched by the way our maritime students connect with their University and take great pride in their chosen subject. It is great to see them using their own initiative to establish this new society and I hope it becomes a tradition which engages past, current and future students as well as local and national industry professionals.”
