The International Maritime Organization does not approve any training courses or institutes. This is the privilege and responsibility of Member Governments who are Parties to the STCW Convention.
The IMO has established two specialized training institutions:
- World Maritime University (WMU) in Sweden, is a postgraduate maritime university founded in 1983 by IMO. The mission of WMU is to be the world centre of excellence in postgraduate maritime and ocean education, research and professional training, while building global capacity and promoting sustainable development.
- IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) in Malta, was established in 1988, under the auspices of IMO. The mission of the Institute is to enhance capacity-building in all States, particularly developing States, to contribute to the fulfillment of the IMO objectives. This is accomplished by delivering expert legal training of the highest standards and the dissemination of knowledge conducive to the development of expertise in all aspects of international maritime law as well as in legislative drafting techniques aimed at incorporating international maritime instruments into national law.
IMO Model Courses are designed to help implement the STCW Convention and, further, to facilitate access to the knowledge and skills demanded by increasingly sophisticated maritime technology. Maritime institutes and their teaching staff can use them in organizing and introducing new courses or in enhancing, updating or supplementing existing training material.
IMO e-Learning IMO has developed a number of e-Learning courses with the purpose of increasing the capacity of Member States to effectively implement IMO instruments. To undertake IMO's e-Learning courses, two options are available: a) by authorization, or b) self-enrolment.
