MOL Teams up with University of Tokyo Graduate School on Project Based Learning for 2nd Year in a Row

- Implementing Industry-Academia Partnership Education Program Leveraging MOL's Expertise in Safe Operation Support and Reduction of Environmental Impact -

TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Junichiro Ikeda) today announced the completion of this year's Project Based Learning (PBL), which is a part of three programs at the University of Tokyo (President: Makoto Gonokami; Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo); Graduate Program for Mechanical Systems Innovation (GMSI), Research and Education Consortium for Innovation of Advanced Integrated Science (CIAiS), and Global Leader Program for Social Design and Management (GSDM). This is the second year in a row that MOL has participated in the program. (*)

The PBL program, implemented by the University of Tokyo Graduate School, aims to develop personnel who have the ability to work in a broader spectrum and apply their skills to a multidisciplinary setting while maintaining a high level of expertise. Participating companies form groups based on themes they come up with and MOL formed a group that focused on its theme - "innovation in vessels for the next generation" - and provided support from both technical and commercial viewpoints.

In this project, the mixed group, which was comprised of Japanese and foreign students at the university, completed research on two themes: "visualization of obstacles by using laser and drone technology" and "realization of a hydrogen-fueled vessel," through expertise accumulated in classes and research at the university. At the final presentation, held in the lecture hall of University of Tokyo's Faculty of Engineering, each group made its presentation in English, and academic supervisors, students, and participating companies actively exchanged opinions. This year's program was especially meaningful for MOL from the standpoints of research and development and human resource development.

MOL's human resource development activities focus on deepening its collaboration with academia with the goal of nurturing personnel with a high degree of international competitiveness and the ability to play active roles in shaping the future of industry and academia. In addition, the company continues to take a proactive stance in promotion of the "ISHIN NEXT - MOL SMART SHIP PROJECT -," which involves development and introduction of technologies that will help reduce the environmental impact of ocean shipping while providing safe, reliable transport services.

(*) For details of the last year's program, please refer to the press release on February 27, 2017:
MOL Teams up with University of Tokyo Graduate School on its Project Based Learning

Explaining ship operation at the MOL's Safety Operation Supporting Center