Centre of Excellence in Maritime Simulator Training and Assessment (COAST) formally kicked off via digital ceremony on 21 October. Although COAST started formally on 1 June, the kick-off was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Petter Aasen, Rector at the University of South-Eastern Norway, opened the ceremony and emphasized COAST’s role in Norwegian Maritime Education and Training (MET). Ingvild Marheim Larsen, the Vice-rector of education and quality of education, presided over the ceremony.
All four COAST consortium partners: University of South-Eastern Norway (USN), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL) and UiT The Arctic University of Norway (UiT) joined the program virtually.
Salman Nazir, the Scientific Leader of COAST, presented a general overview, followed by the Focus Area leaders from partner institutions briefly discussing their implementation plans for COAST deliverables for the next five years. Students and an industrial partner also presented their significant roles and expectations from COAST.
Close to 100 global participants joined the ceremony, including the consortium partners, students, teachers, industrial representatives, researchers, practitioners, and the members of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU). The recorded program can be accessed here.