Since Somaliland reinstated its independence in May 1991, the country has made a visibly tremendous progress in higher education. Today, there are no less than a dozen universities in existence across the nation and most of these are serving its youth so admirably well.
Yet, there was one aspect that had been acutely missing in this educational development i.e. institutions devoted to maritime learning. Somaliland’s coast is 850 kilometers long. Fully 50% of the nation’s resources, if not more, lie at sea. Thus the absence of maritime educational and development institutions —and the adverse effects thereof—was too obvious to ignore.
It was against such gapping background that was behind the establishment of Berbera Maritime and Fisheries Academy (BMFA).
Founded in 2012, the BMFA is today the premier and only existing institution of higher education that is dedicated to the dispensation of Maritime knowledge and development in Somaliland.
The Academy boasts its own dedicated and environmentally- and user-friendly campus (not villas) which is appropriately located near The Berbera Seaport Authority with which BMFA maintains wide ranging collaboration. It is professionally managed and prides itself in the outstanding qualifications, deep experience and extensive expertise of its faculty members.
BMFA’s curricula and course programs are followed to the highest international standards. They have been formulated with invaluable inputs from institutions such as the World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmo, Sweden. The WMU, operated by the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) and BMFA have been maintaining MOU cooperation since 2013.
All facilities and equipment that are necessary for both theoretical and practical purposes are available at BMFA. These include a state-of-the-art language lab for teaching English; a well-equipped workshop where marine engines are dismantled and re-assembled; boats and marine safety equipment which are used to train BMFA cadets under real-time maritime conditions and a well-appointed yard where fishing and utility boats are constructed and commissioned.
In still further improvement, a highly modern shore-sea-shore communication center is planned to be opened by January 2017. When fully operational, the center will be able to monitor and communicate in real time with all maritime traffic in the Gulf of Aden and beyond. Needless to say, it will accord BMFA students the opportunity to train in maritime communications.
In all, the foregoing has rendered BMFA to become a center of learning par excellence in all spheres of maritime education, development and research. Whether in the fields of shipping operations, port management, fishing development, marine environment conservation and maritime research and development, the BMFA is fully capable, well-suited and willing to meet the nation’s needs with due competence and professionalism.
BMFA’s Mission
BMFA’s Vision
The University will be a leading post-secondary level teaching and research institution that will offer courses in different disciplines but with special emphasis on the development of fishing and shipping industries in the country and the wider region
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence.