Dalian Maritime University (DMU) is one of the largest and best maritime universities and is the only key maritime institution under the Ministry of Communications, People’s Republic of China. DMU enjoys a high reputation internationally as an excellent center of maritime education and training as recognized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
DMU is located in southwestern Dalian, which is a famous coastal city in northeastern China with a population of six million. The University covers an area of one million square meters with almost half a million square meters occupied by buildings. The long history of the University can be traced back to 1909, when the Nanyang Institute in Shanghai established a Shipping Management Section. DMU was formally established in 1953 through the amalgamation of three merchant marine institutions: Shanghai Nautical College, the Northeast Navigation College and Fujian Navigation School. With the approval of the Ministry of Education in 1994, the University’s name was changed to the present one.
The University consists of 13 colleges, and in addition to the departments in each college, there are three other departments which serve as support departments for entire University. Presently DMU has a post-doctoral program (R&D base), 16 Doctoral programs, 57 master’s degree programs, and 42 undergraduate programs. Both the Traffic Information Engineering and Control and the Marine Engineering are national key disciplines. The University is authorized to confer MBA, MPA, J.M, and Master of Engineering, an on-the-job master’s degree.
DMU has a highly qualified faculty team, including 204 professors, 400 associate professors, 157 doctoral supervisors, 40 discipline leader, 96 academic leaders, and a large number of excellent young faculty staff members. The team of young specialists and professors is well equipped in profound theoretical knowledge and capable of extensive research in the fields of marine traffic engineering, maritime information engineering, artificial intelligence application onboard vessels, ship power systems and energy-saving technology, marine engine repairing, communication and information systems, marine environmental protection, and maritime law.
DMU has an academic agreement with 5 academicians of the National Academy of Engineering, 48 chair professors, and 198 visiting professors. With the practical academic focus at DMU, these famous specialists and scholars from across the world can bring the latest concepts and the most advanced information in research and theory to DMU faculty staff and students. The staff and students, therefore, have more opportunities to explore and uphold the vision, and consequently can work in a comfortable academic atmosphere.
Since the amalgamation, DMU has educated and trained nearly 50,000 advanced professionals and technical authorities for the country. Many of them are now playing essential roles in maritime and maritime-related industries both in and outside of China. The current number of student has risen to approximately 17,000. Additionally, the university enrolls overseas students for Bachelor’s Master’s Degrees and PhDs. More than 4,000 overseas students and advanced professionals from over 30 countries and regions have been educated and trained at DMU.
The University has an international vision regarding academic cooperation and exchange. Since 1979 when the reform and open-door policy started, DMU has established cooperative relations with more than 20 international renowned maritime institutions, which include those in Russia, USA, Japan, Great Britain, Korea, Australia, Sweden, Egypt and Vietnam. The academic relationships with these sister universities are maintained through mutual visits, faculty staff and student exchanges, joint programs and joint research projects.
Facing the future with its new opportunities and challenges, DMU will continue to bear in mind its mission statement:”be steadfast, rigorous, industrious, pioneering”. The university is determined to focus on its mission by exploring and grasping exciting opportunities, creatively addressing new challenges and, with multiple disciplines for research and education, DMU will achieve its goal of upgrading the University to a position of preeminence among the world’s maritime universities.