Indian Maritime University Awards Degrees to 1,993 Students at 11th Convocation

The Indian Maritime University (IMU) held its 11th Convocation at its headquarters in Chennai, awarding degrees to 1,993 students from its campuses and affiliated institutions. The ceremony highlighted the university’s role in developing skilled professionals for India’s shipping, port management and maritime logistics sectors.

The event was attended by Dr. Malini Shankar, former Vice-Chancellor of IMU, and L. K. Sudhish, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha. Graduates, faculty members, university officials and representatives of the maritime sector gathered to celebrate the students’ academic achievements.

According to the information released by the university, the graduating cohort included 1,605 seafarers. The institution also recognised academic excellence by awarding 13 gold medals and 11 silver medals.

IMU Focuses on Maritime Skills and Industry Readiness

The convocation highlighted the importance of specialised education, practical training and research in preparing graduates for the changing requirements of the maritime industry.

IMU’s academic programmes are designed to support professional development across shipping, ports, maritime logistics and related fields. The university’s emphasis on industry engagement and skill development aligns with India’s broader efforts to strengthen its maritime capabilities and expand employment opportunities in the sector.

Indian Maritime University Expands Partnerships Through MoUs

IMU announced several institutional collaborations aimed at encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship and academic cooperation.

The university signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Maritime India Foundation (MIF) to establish a Maritime Innovation Hub (MIH) under the Sagarmala Startup and Innovation Initiative (S2I2) of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

The initiative aims to support maritime innovation and startup development. MIF has also entered into agreements with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay to establish Maritime Innovation Hubs.

In addition, IMU has signed MoUs with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and Norway’s Nord University to strengthen collaboration with organisations in India and abroad.

The university reported a network of 63 MoUs, comprising 45 national and 18 international agreements. It also reported signing 19 international and 11 national MoUs during the 2025–26 academic year. These figures require clarification because the annual international MoU count exceeds the reported cumulative international total.

New Academic Programmes and Innovation Initiatives

The university is also expanding its academic offerings and introducing additional opportunities for students to develop specialised skills.

During the event, Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr. Rajoo Balaji highlighted the institution’s initiatives, including the introduction of 22 new value-added programmes alongside its longer-duration courses.

He also pointed to an increase in admission enquiries, indicating growing interest among prospective students. According to the remarks attributed to him in the university’s announcement, IMU had secured one of the top two positions in education surveys over the preceding two years. The specific surveys and rankings were not identified in the information provided.

The expansion of academic programmes and industry partnerships is intended to strengthen the university’s contribution to maritime education, research and professional training.

IMU's Role in India's Maritime Development

India’s maritime sector is an important component of international trade, logistics and economic development. Government initiatives such as Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Maritime Vision 2047 aim to strengthen the country's maritime infrastructure, capabilities and global competitiveness.

IMU contributes to these objectives by educating and training professionals for the wider maritime ecosystem. Its programmes cover multiple levels of higher education, including undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral studies.

The university operates campuses in Chennai, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Visakhapatnam. The information supplied for the convocation also identifies 21 affiliated institutes, extending its reach in maritime education and professional training.

Through academic programmes, research and institutional partnerships, IMU aims to support the development of a skilled workforce capable of meeting the evolving needs of the shipping and maritime industries.

The 11th Convocation marked an important milestone for the graduating students as they prepare to pursue careers across maritime and related sectors. The ceremony also underscored the importance of specialised education, innovation and collaboration in supporting India's maritime ambitions.

About Indian Maritime University

Indian Maritime University is a Central University headquartered in Chennai and operates under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India. Established on November 14, 2008, the university was formed by bringing together seven maritime legacy institutions to advance education, training and research.

IMU offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes through its campuses across India, along with affiliated institutions. Its academic and research activities focus on developing professional capabilities and supporting the growth of India's maritime sector.