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Foreign students education

Odesa National Maritime Academy is still considered to be the only educational establishment that trains qualified officers for the marine transport foreign vessels. Nowadays 245 foreign students from 31 countries are studying at the Academy.

During the period from 1950 till 2009 more than 1000 cadets from 86 countries of Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, including the near abroad countries, such as Russian Federation, Moldova, Georgia etc., graduated from the Academy.

The first foreign student from Poland Pytko Zgybnew arrived to study here in 1950, then, in 1951 a citizen of Czechoslovakia, Materna Yirji, a citizen of China, Yui Yuan Fu and later in 1953 – another citizen of China, Chan Lai Sai also came here to get education. In 1955 students from Poland, the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam etc. were coming to study at Odesa Higher Marine School.

A considerable quantity of the graduates works in their countries as ship's Masters, Chief Engineers and in other areas. A number of graduates occupies high state positions – heads of steamship companies and higher educational establishments, deans of faculties, and professors.

167 people from Vietnam graduated from the OHEMU-ONMA. Among them there was Le Dick Toan. After finishing OHEMU, and a postgraduate course later, he worked as KHEMU Rector (now called Vietnam Maritime University). In 1982 a group of graduates — deans of faculties, chairs led by Le Dick Toan visited the Academy. Fan Hong Sean is the rector of Khoshimin Maritime University of Transportation, Wu Min Tao is the dean of Maritime faculty of the fore-mentioned University. Do Viet Shi – the First Vice-Rector of the Vietnam Maritime University. Juan Van An is the Dean of the Ship's Engineering Department. Juan Van Zuet is the head of the Haiphong steamship company. Chin Van Fan is the master, head of the steamship company.

124 people graduated from the Academy from former Czechoslovakia. Vodichka Indrzhykh, the graduate of ONMA Engineering faculty, works as a Minister of Labour in Chech Republic. Peter Kadichka was the head of the Marine Steamship Company Inspection. Materna Irzhy, one of the first graduates, worked as Master of the MV "Koshitse".

Besides Vietnam and Czechoslovakia, citizens from India (82 graduates), Syria (73 graduates), Cuba (48 graduates), Lebanon (32 graduates), Poland (26 graduates) and other countries, have graduated from the Academy and finished post graduate courses. Now they occupy high positions and run business. 20 people among the graduates finished post graduate courses and obtained a scientific degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences.

Foreign cadets take an active part in sports: chess games, table-tennis, volleyball, etc. It was mentioned in "Vechernyaya Odessa" that foreign students were rewarded with diplomas, and valuable prizes for their sports achievements. The dean organized celebrations for graduates from India, Vietnam and Cuba.

In 1976-1980 the choir of Czechoslovakia youth organization led by cadet Miroslav Reitmann and a vocal group consisting of cadets from Madagascar expatriate community (led by Talainy L. Daniel) were of great success among Odesans, they also traveled to different cities with concerts.

Since the moment of independent State of Ukraine foundation, in August 1991, foreign students' education has been contract-based, only a small part of students have studied at the expense of some countries' budgetary funds (Vietnam, Slovakia, Moldova).

Academy's Administration and Dean of Foreign Students Dean's Office have always taken measures regarding enhancing connections and contacts with representatives from firms and companies from different countries as for foreigners' studying at the Academy. Favourable conditions for education and living in the campus have been established for foreigners studying at the Academy.

Since January 1999 preparatory department for foreign students has started to work. The main task of the preparatory department is foreign citizens' adjustment at the Academy, studying Russian and Ukrainian to the extent necessary for further studying according to the chosen speciality.

Education is the most important element of social relations' humanitarization between different states. That's why international relations internationalizations stipulates students and teachers' mobility and migration with the aim of receiving education in different states.

Thus, the international activity is mainly aimed at creating conditions for accelerating the processes, first of all, of considerable increase of international students' contingent at national higher educational establishments and colleges. Work in this field allows to significantly extend off-budget and equity financing of Ukrainian educational establishments, to preserve teaching staff, and to use additional currency resources for development, etc.