MYANMAR Maritime University (MMU) will start offering one-year postgraduate diploma courses on shipping management and port management next month as part of its effort to broaden its human resources development program.

University rector U Thein Tun said 50 students will be accepted for the first intake of each of the two courses, with priority given to people working in various departments under the Ministry of Transportation.

In the future, the university will consider expanding the intake up to 150 students for each course and accepting people from outside the ministry, he said.

The courses are aimed at improving understanding about international shipping and port practices, he said, adding that the courses will be taught by lecturers from University of Yangon’s Law Department and retired lecturers who are experts in the subject.

U Thein Tun said interest in attending MMU is growing, prompting admissions officials to raise the minimum matriculation marks for acceptance from 443 to 458 this year. Despite this, the university is accepting more students for the upcoming academic year starting December 1 – 458, up from 350 last year.