Maritime Education – With a technical angle

How do we educate for a green and increasingly complex maritime future?

This IDA Maritim and DSNAME event dives into the evolving role of maritime education in supporting the sector’s green transition and rapid technological development. Get an inside look at Skibsteknik og Maritimt Design (SMARD)—DTU’s new naval architecture programme developed in close collaboration with MARTEC and industry partners—where ship design, sustainability, and practice-oriented learning take center stage.

We also explore how training must adapt to meet industry needs: from managing advanced energy systems and alternative fuels to navigating digitalization and ensuring operational reliability. With input from Wärtsilä, you’ll gain an OEM perspective on future fuels and the challenges of keeping education aligned with fast-moving technological advancements—without compromising safety.

Join us for a discussion at the intersection of theory and practice, where collaboration between academia and industry is key to shaping the maritime professionals of tomorrow.

Programme

17:30 – 17:40 | Welcome and Introduction

17:40 – 18:10 | Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Ulrik Dam Nielsen, Professor, DTU Construct, Naval Architecture and Maritime Design (SMARD) – Educating the Next Generation of Ship Engineers

This presentation introduces Naval Architecture and Maritime Design (SMARD), a new ship engineering programme at DTU focusing on the Danish maritime sector. The programme has been established in close collaboration with MARTEC and with active input from industry representatives.

The curriculum focuses on modern ship design, the green transition, and practice-oriented learning, preparing students to address the technological and operational challenges facing the maritime industry of the future.

If you would like, you can prepare for this talk by visiting https://student.dtu.dk/studieordninger/diplomingenioer/skibsteknik-og-maritimt-design/studieplan.

18:10 – 18:30 | University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Lisa Loloma Froholdt, Head of Research, Continuing Education for a Maritime Sector in Transition

The Blue Denmark is in the midst of a paradigm shift. The green transition, digitalisation, new energy systems, the geopolitical situation and the modernisation of the Danish Defence fleet are creating a growing demand for new skills and lifelong learning across the maritime sector.

Based on a nationwide needs analysis conducted by SDU in 2026 among shipping companies, shipyards, authorities, and maritime educational institutions, this presentation highlights the competencies currently most in demand. Particular attention will be given to digitalisation, the green transition, maritime health and safety, and maritime law, as well as the course formats preferred by industry and SDU's plans for developing future flexible continuing education programme. Finally, we will reveal some of the intentions for the implementation of these findings for maritime education at SDU.

18:30 – 19:00 | Dinner and Networking

19:00 – 19:30 | Wärtsilä, Gudmundur Langvik-Valdimarsson, Future Fuels from an OEM Perspective

The development of new marine engines and alternative fuels is creating new demands for both the maritime industry and educational institutions.

In this presentation, Wärtsilä will share perspectives on how maritime education can keep pace with technological developments without compromising safety or operational performance. The session will explore the transition from traditional machinery-focused thinking to a broader systems and energy perspective onboard ships, and discuss how closer collaboration between educational institutions and OEMs can strengthen both initial and continuing education in support of the green transition.

19:30 | End of Programme
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The event is in collaboration with Danish Society for Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.

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