On the morning of November 9, the Conference on High-Quality Development of Maritime Education and the 80th Anniversary of the Nautical Science Program of Wuhan University of Technology (WUT) was held at the Student Activity Center on the Yujiatou Campus. The conference was attended by distinguished guests including He Jianzhong, former Vice Minister of Transport; Liu Hanjun, former Director of the Literature and Art Bureau of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee; Zhang Guofa, former Director and General Manager of China Shipping Group Co., Ltd.; Yan Xinping, President of the China Institute of Navigation and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Meng Fangbing, Secretary of the CPC WUT Committee; Vice Presidents Luo Rong and Zhang Di; and Liu Zuyuan, Deputy Director of the University Council. The attendees also included representatives from maritime enterprises, partner universities, alumni, as well as leaders of relevant WUT departments and faculty and students from the School of Navigation.

In his address, Secretary Meng Fangbing highlighted that WUT was the only university directly under the Ministry of Education with a comprehensive system of water transport disciplines, encompassing shipbuilding, ports, logistics, navigation, management, and ship repair. It also remained the only such university offering a nautical science program. He expressed his hope that the School of Navigation would stay committed to the vision of “Serving the Nation through Shipping” align with the goals of the national “15th Five-Year” strategic plan, and continue advancing education, scientific innovation, and talent cultivation in the maritime sector to promote connotative and high-quality development. Meng also noted that the reunion of outstanding alumni and the signing of new cooperation agreements between the university and industry partners would inject new vitality into the development of the school and its programs.

Zhou Chunfa, Director of the Crew Management Division of the Maritime Safety Administration of the Ministry of Transport, extended warm congratulations on the 80th anniversary of the Nautical Science Program. He encouraged the School of Navigation to leverage its disciplinary advantages, build a more open, integrated, and innovative talent cultivation system, and contribute to China’s goals of becoming a strong nation in transportation and maritime affairs.

Alumni representatives, including Liu Liang, Director of the Changjiang Shipping Administration; Ge Jun, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee of COSCO Shipping Seafarer Management Co., Ltd.; and Li Zengzhong, Deputy General Manager of China Yangtze Shipping Group Co., Ltd., also delivered remarks. They warmly congratulated the school on its anniversary, fondly recalled their years of study and growth at WUT, and called upon alumni to unite in supporting the development of the School of Navigation and contribute to the cultivation of high-caliber professionals for the nation’s maritime and shipping endeavors.

As a special guest, Wang Haiyu, Director of the Changjiang Maritime Safety Administration, delivered a congratulatory speech. He commended WUT’s School of Navigation for its 80 years of dedication to maritime education, recognizing its significant role in nurturing generations of professionals for the Yangtze River shipping and maritime sectors. He expressed hopes for closer collaboration with the school in key areas such as talent cultivation, intelligent supervision, and safety management to jointly safeguard navigation on the Yangtze River and advance the construction of a strong transportation nation.

Dean Liu Kezhong introduced the school’s development and achievements, followed by speeches from Professor Mou Junmin and Yang Yuhang, an undergraduate student majoring in Nautical Science (Class of 2022). The event also witnessed the release of The History of the WUT School of Navigation and the inauguration of the School of Navigation History Museum. The establishment of the museum marks a new milestone, serving as a platform to showcase the school’s glorious history and achievements while inspiring a strong sense of belonging and pride among faculty, students, and alumni.

During the conference, WUT signed cooperation agreements with five partners — Guangxi Maritime Safety Administration, Shenzhen Maritime Safety Administration, China Yangtze Shipping Group Co., Ltd., the Eighth Research Institute of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, and Huayang Maritime Center Co., Ltd. The agreements will foster multi-faceted and extensive collaboration in areas such as joint research platforms, technological innovation, talent exchange, and student internships and employment.

A donation ceremony was also held, receiving enthusiastic support from alumni, partner enterprises, and various sectors of society. On behalf of the university, attending leaders presented certificates of appreciation to the donors.

In conjunction with the anniversary celebration, the 2025 Forum on High-Quality Development of Maritime Education was held. Experts from the industry shared insights on topics including the impact of intelligent shipping on maritime talent cultivation, future directions for training maritime professionals, the pioneering role of navigation assurance in serving national strategies, and innovative approaches to nurturing new-generation seafarers.

Written by: Xia Wenjuan

Rewritten by: Liang Muwei

Edited by: Li Huihui, Li Tiantian

Source: School of Navigation