5 November - 5 December, Malta
This year’s programme brought together 23 participants from diverse backgrounds and nationalities, guided by Awni Behnam (Honorary President of the IOI) as Course Director and Alan Deidun, Director of the IOI Malta Training Centre, as Course Manager. As in previous years, the programme was expertly supported by the dedicated course administration team, including Tania Aquilina and Jelena Aleksic. This year’s participants hailed from 17 countries: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Egypt, Georgia, Hungary, Iran, Japan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malta, Romania, Spain, Thailand, Türkiye and Turkmenistan. The participants brought diverse academic and professional backgrounds, ranging from marine and coastal management to law, engineering, policy, and aquaculture.
The opening ceremony of this year’s IOI Malta Training Programme featured distinguished speakers, including Malta’s President Emeritus George Vella and University of Malta Rector Alfred J Vella. Representing the IOI were Awni Behnam, Alan Deidun, and Antonella Vassallo, who warmly welcomed the participants and emphasized the critical role of capacity-building in regional ocean governance.
As usual, this year’s programme introduced innovative and timely aspects to enhance participants' learning experiences:
The class was able to take advantage of the unique opportunity to gain formal accreditation from the University of Malta by completing the full Study Unit assessments, which were equivalent to 15 ECTS credits.
The programme combined academic and practical learning through various methods, including class-based lectures, policy simulations, scenario planning, and role-playing games. Participants applied their newly acquired knowledge to real-world situations, such as mock meetings and policy drafting exercises.
Furthermore, the field trips enriched the learning experience by taking participants to areas of significant marine and coastal importance in Malta. This year’s visits included: the Malta Freeport; Grand Harbour and surrounding areas; the Tsunami Early-Warning System in Marsaxlokk; the National Aquarium; the IMO Maritime Law Institute; the AFM Maritime Squadron; AquaBioTech Group, and the Esplora Interactive Science Museum. A social event, the "Taste of Malta" evening hosted by Course Director Behnam and organized at the Preluna Hotel SkyBar, complemented the academic aspects of the programme, offering participants the opportunity to experience Maltese cuisine and culture while fostering camaraderie in a relaxed setting.
The programme culminated in the hallmark Regional Ocean Policy Frameworks Simulation exercise, where participants engaged in drafting regional policies under the guidance of expert mentors. This practical application of policy-making reinforced their understanding of governance and collaboration across the Mediterranean, Black, Baltic, and Caspian Seas.
During the last week of the programme, participants attended the IOI Special Seminar, titled “The Ocean at the Nexus of Security, Sovereignty, and Sustainability – Cooperation in a Fragmented World” - read more about the Seminar here.