Gdynia Maritime University and Ørsted to develop human resources for the offshore wind energy sector
Gdynia Maritime University and Ørsted have signed a Letter of Intent to cooperate in the development of human resources for the offshore wind energy sector. The ceremonial signing of the document was attended by: Joanna Wis-Bielewicz, Director of Market Development Ørsted Poland, Prof. Tomasz Tarasiuk, Vice-Rector for Cooperation and Development UMG and Andrzej Popadiuk, Director of the Centre for Offshore Wind Energy UMG.
Ørsted is the largest and most experienced producer of offshore wind energy in the world. The Maritime University of Gdynia, a university with extensive experience in educating seafarers, prepares specialists and managers for the dynamic offshore energy sector. The combination of Ørsted’s more than 30 years of experience in the construction and operation of offshore wind farms with the potential and didactic facilities of the Maritime University of Gdynia will result in modern programmes educating engineers and managers for the offshore wind energy industry.
– I believe that the signing of the letter of intent is the beginning of a long-term and fruitful cooperation between Gdynia Maritime University and Ørsted,” says Prof. Tomasz Tarasiuk. – The participation of Ørsted experts in the education of UMG students will undoubtedly contribute to increasing the attractiveness of education in offshore specialisations. In addition, it is our joint intention to expand cooperation to include research and development work in the area of offshore wind energy, using the University’s current and newly established laboratories, he adds.
– ‘Innovation, as well as cooperation with research and scientific units around the world, are in our DNA. I am glad that another excellent Polish university has joined the group of Ørsted(link is external) partners and that Ørsted experts will be able to share their knowledge and experience in the development of offshore wind energy with a wide range of students at Gdynia Maritime University,’ says Joanna Wis-Bielewicz.
– Practical cooperation between the Centre for Offshore Wind Energy and Ørsted has already begun. Ørsted experts are passing on their unique knowledge and experience to participants in the Executive Offshore Wind MBA programme. The EOW MBA is run by practitioners for practitioners, Ørsted’s participation is a valuable enrichment to the development process of its participants. We are already planning the participation of Ørsted representatives in further programmes and events of the Centre for Offshore Wind Energy at Gdynia Maritime University,” emphasises Andrzej Popadiuk.
Due to the broad competences of the Maritime University of Gdynia and the dynamic development of Ørsted in Poland (the company has applied for the construction of 5 new wind farms together with its Polish partner, the transformational energy producer ZE PAK), in the future it will be possible to cooperate extensively on innovation, research and development of offshore wind energy technologies and environmental studies for investment projects. The emerging Offshore Centre – which will house the UMG-owned Maritime Institute and the Centre for Offshore Wind Energy – will become an important element of the Offshore Valley, providing scientific, research and teaching facilities for offshore wind energy in the Baltic Sea, and UMG’s new partner Ørsted Polska declares its active participation in the development of the Offshore Valley in Poland, in cooperation with Gdynia Maritime University.
