Caribbean Maritime University gets more computers from ACMF

Donation geared at providing more access to online learning

The Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) has received an additional 20 laptops from the American Caribbean Maritime Foundation (ACMF) in keeping with its mandate to provide access to maritime education.

This comes after the ACMF’s donation of 18 laptops to the CMU in October 2020. The laptops will be loaned to students who are disadvantaged and are available at the school’s library facility as the CMU continues to anticipate and find solutions to student needs. 

The ACMF’s continued contribution to the CMU was reiterated by Professor Ibrahim Ajagunna, deputy president, and Dr Eron McLean, vice president of planning and development, who were also in attendance at the handover event.

Addressing the handover ceremony last Thursday, Professor Noel Brown, vice president of Academic Affairs and Accreditation, commented that, “with the blended modality of learning still in place at the CMU, we are elated that even more students will be able to access online classes”.

Strong partnership underscored

Brown highlighted that roughly 19 per cent of the student population is unable to participate in online classes or complete assignments and examinations.

Dr Geneive Brown Metzger, CEO of the ACMF, underscored the importance of this longstanding “academic partnership” between the two entities, as the ACMF is committed to the vision of the CMU to educate a cadre of maritime professionals who are vital to the global supply chain”.

Brown Metzger added: “The strong partnership between the ACMF and the CMU has seen students benefitting from millions of dollars in scholarships and donations, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

She added that ACFM understands the challenges that students continue to have because of the disruption caused by the pandemic, and we hope these laptops will help meet some of those needs.

Brown Metzger thanked MSC Cruises, which made the donation of the laptops possible.

McLean, speaking on the donation, said “a laptop is a basic tool every student needs, but not everyone has. It is a worthy contribution”.

Also on hand at the ceremony was Marina Anselme, secretary-general of the MSC Foundation located in Switzerland, a donor to the ACMF.

Anselme expressed her gratitude for being a part of this venture, stating, “we believe in inclusive education which leads to purpose fulfillment”.

She added: “We want to ensure we are outputting responsible citizens, especially those who will contribute significantly to the blue planet.”