Balancing university studies with additional professional training is no small achievement — but Andreas Sofokleous, a Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture student, has done exactly that. Alongside his degree, Andreas completed the Technical Ship Management Diploma with the Maritime Training Academy to gain deeper insight into the workings of a shipping company and better prepare for his future career.

His motivation to go beyond the standard curriculum reflects his determination to stand out as he works towards his goal of becoming a Technical Superintendent Engineer. Having now successfully completed the Technical Ship Management Diploma, Andreas has already signed up for his next challenge: the Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Diploma.

Andreas kindly shared his experiences with us:

Why did you decide to study the Technical Ship Management Diploma?

“I decided to study the Technical Ship Management Diploma because I wanted to get a deeper insight into the work involved within a shipping company. To be more specific, I started an internship in a shipping company’s technical department during the summer vacation between university semesters, and my manager recommended that I should take up this Diploma in order to better understand the function and the duties of the department.”

What were your course highlights?

“Something that really stood out in this Diploma was the fact that the courses combine a wide range of knowledge from different areas. Although I am a Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering student and I loved the modules that were technically oriented, I also liked the courses that concerned legal and financial considerations.”

How do you think this course will help you in your career?

“My primary career goal right now is to work as a Technical Superintendent Engineer in a shipping company. With that in mind, the knowledge I gained from this course will help me achieve this goal more easily, as I will have a better understanding of the work done within a shipping company. Although the university prepares us to become Marine Engineers, it does not give us enough insight about the work that we will be called to undertake when working in a shipping company. This Diploma came in handy as it helped bridge this knowledge gap.”

Why did you decide to enrol on another course (Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Diploma) with us?

“I decided to enrol on the Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Diploma because I wanted to deepen my knowledge concerning more technical matters. Also, I always thought shipbuilding is an interesting and fascinating process.”

Do you have any advice for future students?

“I would advise future students to not rush when writing their assignments and to take their time when doing so. When completing an assignment patiently and carefully, the answer written tends to remain in your memory more effectively and for a longer period. That will significantly help to absorb the knowledge offered by the modules.”

Huge thank you to Andreas for sharing his experience with us! His story shows the value of combining academic studies with professional diplomas to develop practical industry knowledge early on. By building expertise in both technical and management aspects of shipping, he is preparing himself for a strong career. We are excited to see what he achieves next!