The University of Piraeus is expanding its international network through a new strategic partnership with Shanghai Maritime University (SMU), one of China's foremost institutions specialising in maritime education. The SMU–UNIPI Global Talent Exchange (GTE) Memorandum of Understanding marks the beginning of a collaboration that will strengthen academic ties between Greece and China while offering students valuable international learning opportunities.
The University of Piraeus hosted the signing ceremony for the SMU–UNIPI Global Talent Exchange (GTE) Memorandum of Understanding on 2 June 2026. Professor Michail Sfakianakis, Rector of the University of Piraeus, and Professor Yin Min, Vice President of Shanghai Maritime University, signed the agreement in the presence of representatives from both institutions and officials from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Greece. Professor Ioannis Theotokas, Chair of the Department of Maritime Studies, and Associate Professor Ioannis Lagoudis, Vice Chair of the Department who initiated the partnership and coordinated the collaboration between the two universities were present.
The agreement provides for the reciprocal exchange of up to ten students each year. Students from the Department of Maritime Studies at the University of Piraeus will participate in a four-week summer programme in Shanghai, with Shanghai Maritime University covering both tuition and accommodation costs. In return, SMU students will attend the University of Piraeus' summer semester, gaining valuable academic experience at one of the Mediterranean's leading centres for maritime studies.
The first group of University of Piraeus students is currently attending Shanghai Maritime University's summer programme, effectively inaugurating this new academic bridge between Greece and China.
Founded in 1909, Shanghai Maritime University is widely recognised as one of Asia's leading specialised universities in maritime studies, port management, transportation, logistics, and marine engineering. Throughout its long history, the University has played a pivotal role in educating professionals who have gone on to shape China's maritime industry, port sector, and public administration. Today, its alumni network exceeds 210,000 graduates working across shipping companies, ports, logistics organisations, and government agencies worldwide.
Shanghai Maritime University currently enrols more than 20,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students and maintains a strong research profile in maritime transportation, supply chain management, marine engineering, artificial intelligence applications in transport, and sustainable shipping. Its academic excellence is consistently reflected in international subject rankings, where it performs particularly well in Marine Engineering and Transportation Science & Technology.
The University also maintains an extensive network of international partnerships with leading institutions around the world and hosts globally oriented academic programmes, including a joint master's programme with the World Maritime University (WMU) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), further highlighting its international outlook.
For the University of Piraeus, this partnership further strengthens its position as one of Europe's leading institutions in maritime education. The Department of Maritime Studies already collaborates extensively with universities, international organisations, and major stakeholders across the global shipping industry. The addition of Shanghai Maritime University to this network opens new avenues for academic cooperation with the world's fastest-growing maritime economy.
The significance of this partnership becomes even more evident considering Shanghai's role as the world's busiest container port and one of the leading global hubs for shipping, logistics, and international trade. For University of Piraeus students, studying in such an environment offers first-hand exposure to the latest developments in global shipping, providing practical insight into the opportunities and challenges shaping the maritime sector.
This collaboration reflects the University of Piraeus' long-term commitment to internationalisation, student mobility, and the development of strategic partnerships with world-class universities. Through initiatives such as the SMU–UNIPI Global Talent Exchange, the University continues to expand its international footprint while offering its students high-quality educational experiences that prepare them to succeed in an increasingly interconnected global maritime industry.