From October 7^th till 10^th, 2026, the Annual General Assembly and Conference of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU) took place in University of Split, Faculty of Maritime Studies in Split, Croatia. The National University “Odessa Maritime Academy” (NUOMA) was represented at these events by the Acting Rector of NUOMA Professor Vadym Zakharchenko and associate professor of the Ship Handling Department Capt. Dmytro Zhukov.

The IAMU Annual General Assembly is a forum for information exchange, policy approval, and the development and strengthening of good relations and cooperation between IAMU member maritime higher education institutions. During the opening ceremony of the General Assembly, the Representative of Croatian Maritime Authority, the representative of the Split’s City Hall, the Rector of University of Split, Dean of Faculty of Maritime Studies, the Chair of IAMU SHAN Hongjun Professor, PhD President of Dalian Maritime University have speeches.

One of the key items on the agenda was the President’s Forum. The President’s Forum is a meeting where the presidents of IAMU member higher education institutions discuss issues, especially regarding policies, directions and activities of IAMU, taking into account academic relations between member universities, as well as economic and technological developments in the international maritime community. The theme of this President Forum was “Human-centred Digital Oceans: Educating Safe & Green Global Maritime Professionals”, it was focused on the implications of rapid technological change for maritime education and training, and particularly on the type of maritime professional we need to educate for the future. During President’s Forum NUOMA Acting Rector Professor Vadym Zakharchenko had speech on the defined forum’s theme. In particular, he made focus on universities’ responses on fast development of new technologies in maritime sector, on necessary changes in education and training programmes and teaching and learning methods, on th erole of life-long learning in ensuring continuous update of knowledge, skills and remaining appropriate competency of maritime professionals during their careers/

Also Professor Vadym Zakharchenko on behalf of Ukrainian delegations expressed gratitude to the event organizers and all IAMU members for supporting Ukrainian maritime higher education system and giving the possibility to participate in the IAMU General Assembly and Conference 2026.

At the plenary sessions of the General Annual Assembly the issues regarding the approval of the reports of the executive committee and the subcommittees of the IAMU were considered, the winners of the research project competition were determined and the experts of the IAMU were awarded. NUOMA delegation received the IAMU Certificate of Appreciation issued for Oleksandr Volkov, a professor of Navigation Department of NUOMA.

The hosting universities of the next IAMU AGA and IAMUC the was selected. IAMU AGA Assembly 2027 will be host by John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University, Philippines. The IAMU and IAMUC 2028 will be host by Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada.

At the IAMU conference, scientists and lecturers of IAMU member universities had the opportunity to present the results of their academic/scientific research to the IAMU community. The IAMU conference was organized by the local executive committee and the International Program Committee of IAMU. More than 80 presentations were heard during the MAMU Conference. Dmytro Zhukov presented the NUOMA by the follows presentations during IAMUC 2026:

• “Improvement of Data Processing Algorithms for Enhanced Accuracy of Inertial Navigation Systems”;
• “Reducing the Impact of Navigational Accident Risks on Navigation Safety by Taking it into Account”.

All expenses for the participation of NUOMA representatives in the activities of the IAMU AGA and IAMU Conference were at the expense of the IAMU the IAMU LEC.