Academics Present Research Papers at Maritime Economics Conference

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Accelerated Academic Development Programme (AADP) lecturers Mr Ayanda Meyiwa and Mr Sanele Gumede presented papers while attending their first ever International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME) Conference in Kyoto, Japan.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the IAME Conference has been attended by some of the most prominent academic society of scholars with an interest in maritime economics, coming from a variety of research backgrounds.

The IAME Conference aims to provide an opportunity for the world scientific community to meet and discuss current research topics and contribute to the development of maritime economics and management as a well-established academic discipline.

Meyiwa said he was proud to represent UKZN and rub shoulders with recognised specialists in the maritime economics community.

‘It was my first international conference experience as an academic. It was a learning curve and I got to meet, engage in conversations and exchange contacts with Port Governance experts such as Professor Theo Notteboom of the University of Antwerp and Professor Dong-Wook Song, who is the Republic of Korea Chair and Professor of Maritime Logistics at the World Maritime University, Sweden ,’ he said.

Under the theme “Maritime Transport Quality in the Evolving World”, Meyiwa’s paper was titled: “South Africa’s Port Doctrine: Dilemmas and the Way Forward”; while Gumede presented the “Regulation of South Africa’s Ports: Dilemmas and Reforms”.

Both papers presented by these emerging scholars were co-authored with their supervisor and Maritime Economist, Dr Mihalis Chasomeris from the Graduate School of Business & Leadership (GSB&L). Their papers, which are also a contribution toward their PhDs, examined the phenomenon of port governance, port pricing and port logistics within the maritime transportation industry.

Meyiwa explained that attending international conferences such as the IAME secured the School of Accounting Economics and Finance a place in the international sector where the University is viewed as a research institution rather than just a teaching institution.

‘The fact that we can take our work and put it in the international arena for review, feedback and critical analysis by other scholars of diverse backgrounds really gives us the edge to say that we have peer-reviewed work, not only amongst ourselves as a University or a nation, but by individuals who have no knowledge of our Institution giving us credibility,’ he added. 

Words by: Sibonelo Shinga