Mombasa, Kenya – December 5, 2025 — The future of sustainable shipping in East Africa took a significant step forward as the GEMS-TECH (Green Maritime Horizons) Project held its first Stakeholder Engagement Workshop in Kenya. The event, co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ Programme, convened industry leaders, academic experts, and maritime cadets at the Technical University of Mombasa’s (TUM) TUMEL Conference Center.
The workshop was a collaborative effort spearheaded by TUM’s Institute of Maritime and Seafaring Studies and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology’s (JKUAT) Department of Marine Engineering and Maritime Operations, both key project partners.
Roadmap to a Modern Curriculum
The central focus of the engagement was to discuss research findings and lay the groundwork for integrating new, modernized courses into the existing maritime education curricula in Kenya. This crucial update aims to align local training with global green initiatives, including the IMO 2050 Decarbonization Strategy and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation).
“The GEMS-TECH project is explicit about its mission: modernizing maritime education in Egypt and Kenya by embedding sustainability, green technologies, and water resource protection into higher education curricula.” — Project Partner Representative
The project will address a recognized gap in equipping future professionals with the skills required for a sustainable maritime sector. The courses are set to cover topics such as:
- Green Shipping Technologies
- Water Conservation and Pollution Control
- Sustainable Water and Marine Ecosystem Management
Industry-Academia Collaboration is Key
Discussions during the workshop emphasized the necessity of strong ties between academia and industry. By integrating feedback from industry professionals, the academic partners will ensure that the new curriculum modules are practically relevant and meet the operational demands of transitioning to green maritime operations.
The collaboration between TUM and JKUAT, along with other international partners, signals a powerful commitment to building a shared, future-ready, and environmentally responsible maritime workforce in the region.
A key output of the broader GEMS-TECH project will be the development of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) to make cutting-edge knowledge in green maritime operations accessible to a wider audience globally.
The successful event marks a resolute declaration of intent: Kenya is positioning itself to be a leader in the sustainable Blue Economy by investing in the education of its next generation of maritime professionals. The challenge now remains to sustain the momentum and translate the roadmap into long-term systemic transformation.
Workshop Photos
