SINCE the Singapore Maritime Academy set out to provide a route to university degrees for its diploma level students, it has actively pursued collaborations with premier foreign universities. And this has gone beyond credit transfers so that its Singapore students can proceed to these degree programmes soon after their diploma courses and graduate from these universities. The main degree programmes introduced are:
BEng (Honours) in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
Since 2004, in a tie-up with the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde (UGS), graduates of Singapore Polytechnic's Specialist Diploma in Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture (Smena) could be admitted directly to the fourth year of the BEng (Honours) in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering degree programme of the UGS, which is conducted full-time in Singapore.
Bachelor of Maritime Operations
Then in 2006, the SMA embarked on a special collaboration with The Netherlands Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz (MIWB) to offer seafaring graduates of DNS and DMR, advanced standing to the final stage of the degree course in Bachelor of Maritime Operations (BMO) of the Dutch university.
According to the SMA, its Bachelor of Maritime Operations aims to train ship officers with operational skills which include a deeper understanding of shipboard operations.
The degree is fully compliant with the requirements and standards of international conventions and maritime practice.
Students should take around one-and-a-half years to complete the final stage of the degree programme.
The course fee of S$27,500 includes taught modules at the SMA for three months, food and accommodation at Willem Barentsz for three months and a distance learning package and project work while students work onboard ships for six to nine months.
In the case of the BEng (Honours) in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, it aims to train students to expand and deepen their knowledge and skills with theoretical and design fundamentals in Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture.
As the fourth year programme is conducted full time in Singapore, this means cost and time savings for the students as well.
The SMA said that there are now six students attending the Phase 2 of training in the Netherlands, while another 11 will be graduating from the programme soon.
Another 12 students are presently attending the SMA's BEng (Honours) in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering programme in Singapore.
