Pratik Bijlani – The Indian Maritime University (IMU) continues to strengthen its position as a leading centre for maritime education, research and workforce development, with significant progress highlighted during a recent review meeting chaired by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal. The meeting underscored IMU’s growing contribution to India’s ambition of becoming a global maritime powerhouse through enhanced academic excellence, research, innovation and industry collaboration.
Among the university’s notable achievements is a five-fold increase in IMU Common Entrance Test (IMU-CET) registrations since 2014, an 18-fold rise in women cadet enrolment and the establishment of more than 60 domestic and international academic and industry partnerships since 2021.
Explaining the growth in admissions, Dr. Malini V. Shankar, IAS (Retd.), Vice Chancellor of IMU, noted that while the Directorate General of Shipping’s decision to make IMU-CET the common entrance examination for DG Shipping-approved courses contributed significantly, the university has also expanded its outreach through school awareness programmes, educational fairs and targeted campaigns across underserved regions. “IMU’s growth has been driven by sustained outreach, stronger industry engagement and greater inclusivity. By expanding awareness and encouraging more women to join maritime careers, we are building a larger, more diverse and future-ready talent pool.” she said.
Dr. Shankar noted that IMU’s research ecosystem has undergone a significant transformation over the past decade. While research activity was once largely limited to part-time scholars, the university has progressively strengthened its academic capabilities through dedicated doctoral programmes and, over the past three years, the induction of full-time PhD researchers. This shift has enabled IMU to align research more closely with national maritime priorities while fostering greater academic depth and continuity.
Alongside internally funded projects, the university is increasingly securing external research grants from organisations such as DRDO, the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Earth Sciences, as well as undertaking industry consultancies. As a member of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU), IMU is also collaborating on internationally funded research with institutions including the University of Tasmania, Korea University of Ocean Sciences and other global partners, exposing its researchers to international best practices and further elevating the quality, relevance and global competitiveness of its research.
Looking ahead, the university is aligning its academic programmes with the objectives of Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 by introducing subjects such as decarbonisation, digitalisation and autonomous shipping, while expanding internships, dual-degree programmes and micro-credit electives. Emphasising the importance of preparing graduates for an evolving industry, Dr. Shankar observed, “Preparing future maritime professionals requires continuously updating our curriculum, embracing emerging technologies and strengthening industry partnerships. Our objective is to ensure IMU graduates possess both academic excellence and practical skills needed for tomorrow’s maritime sector.” Through these initiatives, IMU continues to reinforce its role in developing the skilled maritime workforce required to support India’s rapidly expanding maritime ambitions.Marex Media