Lanzarote is moving towards the implementation of the Degree in Nautical Studies and Maritime Transport at the Arrecife Maritime-Fishing Vocational Training Institute, after the Parliament of the Canary Islands approved a Non-Law Proposal (PNL) on May 28 to urge its implementation, thus addressing the need to strengthen maritime higher education in Lanzarote and La Graciosa, diversify the island's economy and generate qualified employment, recovering the island's historical nautical vocation.
The presentation day, held on the island, was attended by the Minister of Universities, Science, Innovation and Culture of the Government of the Canary Islands, Migdalia Machín, accompanied by the rector of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Lluís Serra; the Deputy Minister of Universities and Research, Ciro Gutiérrez; the Minister of Education of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Ascensión Toledo; the Minister of the Presidency of the same island institution, Miguel Ángel Jiménez; the mayor of Arrecife, Yonathan de León; the deputy mayor of the city, Echedey Eugenio; the president of the University Foundation of Lanzarote, José Torres; the president of the Chamber of Commerce of Lanzarote, José Valle; the director of the center, Carmen Déniz; among other representatives of the academic institutions and promoters of this initiative.
During the meeting, the feasibility of implementing this new university degree was discussed, which will promote and diversify the training offer on the island, thus avoiding the brain drain, while facilitating access to higher education in the maritime field for young people from Lanzarote and the rest of the Canary Islands.
The Minister of Universities of the Canarian Executive, Migdalia Machín, stated that "the implementation of the Degree in Nautical Studies and Maritime Transport will allow us to take advantage of existing resources on the island to offer quality higher education alternatives and contribute to the sustainable and diversified development of the island and the Canarian archipelago."
"The expansion of the university offer in Lanzarote is a historical demand that we are addressing today to continue placing Lanzarote at the forefront of maritime training, strengthen its economy and contribute to sustainability," added the Minister.
Lanzarote has more than 70 years of experience in maritime-fishing training and has first-class educational facilities, which the delegation was able to see during the visit, with navigation simulators, laboratories and its own boats, which will allow an immediate implementation of the degree and an efficient use of existing resources.
For the rector of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Lluís Serra, "the implementation of this degree requires the convergence of different institutions, as has been made clear in this meeting. The expansion of the Lanzarote campus is an opportunity for the island that we from the University will be supporting, as it cannot be otherwise."
The degree, which will be integrated into the academic offer of the ULPGC, will open new avenues of specialization in a sector with high employability and international projection, such as the maritime-port sector, which will increase the possibilities of professional development for local youth and other islands who choose Lanzarote as an academic destination.
For her part, the Minister of Education of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Ascensión Toledo, pointed out that "the implementation of the Degree in Nautical Studies and Maritime Transport in Lanzarote represents a historical advance in the strengthening of our higher education offer, especially in a field as strategic as the maritime one. This initiative not only responds to a demand widely shared by the island community, but also opens a real path for our young people to train without leaving their land, accessing a high-level university degree."
In this sense, the president of the University Foundation of Lanzarote, José Torres, stated that "the Degree in Nautical Studies will be a strategic lever for Lanzarote to lead the development of the Blue Economy in the Canary Islands, generating qualified employment, innovation and sustainable growth from its maritime vocation and potential."
