The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST; Kim Woong-seo, president) announced the holding of the 2022 London Protocol Engineering Master of Project Administration (LPEM) Commencement Ceremony at KIOST Headquarters on August 10, 2022. Three students^* from three countries obtained their degrees at the ceremony, which marked its third anniversary this year.

* Dashbalbar Oyungerel (Transport Ministry, Mongolia), Jonathan Ahorlu Fafa (Regional Maritime University, Ghana), Htun Lin Hlaing (Myanmar Port Authority)

In September 2016, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries proposed that KIOST host the London Protocol Graduate School to strengthen the London Protocol’s scientific and technological expertise through technical cooperation and to enhance Korea’s status within the London Protocol at the London Convention and Protocol Conference of the Parties.

In this context, KIOST set up the London Protocol Engineering Master of Project Administration (LPEM) for international students at the University of Science and Technology (UST) and has been operating a degree program for public servants from developing countries since the fall semester of 2018. Prior to this most recent commencement ceremony, the program had produced seven graduates from four countries (the Philippines, Myanmar, Peru and Jamaica).

“It is my hope that graduates of LPEM will actively respond to solving their nations’ marine environment issues in the future and serve as bridges to strengthen marine environment cooperation with Korea,” said KIOST President Kim.

“The London Protocol is a resolution adopted to preserve and protect the marine environment from all sources of pollution. With the importance of the marine environment growing in the international community, we hope the personnel who complete the LPEM from the various countries will contribute significantly to the resolution of global environmental problems,” said Shin Jae-young, Director of the Marine Conservation Division of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.