Bridging Academia and Industry in Oslo: Nor-Shipping 2025

Last week our school proudly participated in Nor-Shipping 2025, a globally recognized maritime gathering held in Oslo, Norway. Nor-Shipping brought together key stakeholders from across the maritime industry, offering a unique platform for knowledge exchange, academic collaboration, and industry insight.

Nor-Shipping stands as one of the most influential maritime events globally, serving as a vital meeting point for industry leaders, innovators, policymakers, and academics. Its role in shaping the future of the maritime sector is undeniable, as it fosters high-level dialogue around emerging challenges and opportunities.

Alba’s participation in this year’s edition reaffirmed our School’s presence on the international stage and our active engagement in shaping the future of maritime education and leadership.

Our school was invited to co-host a panel discussion in collaboration with BI Norwegian Business School, under the theme “The latest developments and academic opportunities in the maritime industry.”

The session brought together faculty, alumni, and industry professionals, and fostered a rich dialogue on the future of shipping through the lenses of sustainability, digitalization, and transparency.

Representing Alba were Dr. Alexandros Glykas, Visiting Professor and CEO of DYNAMARINe; Mr. Stavros Gyftakis, CFO of Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp. — a long-standing supporter of Alba’s shipping initiatives; and alumna Ms. Talya Findikoglu, who contributes to the family-run Master Maritime Agencies Co. Inc.

From BI Norwegian Business School, the discussion featured Professor Randi Lunnan, Assistant Professor Iva Parlov, Mr. Martin Kyrkjebø Wickmann, and MSc student Mr. Mattis Reikvam Solberg — each offering valuable insights from both academic and operational perspectives.

Moderated by Mr. Yngve Fjell, the session drew attention to the evolving skillsets and knowledge areas required for the next generation of maritime professionals. It highlighted the critical role of academic institutions in preparing leaders for a rapidly changing maritime landscape.

Spyros Vougious, Director of Alba’s Shipping Programs, commented:
“Participating in Nor-Shipping 2025 has been an outstanding opportunity to engage with our alumni, connect with leading academic institutions in maritime education, and explore developments in the global shipping industry. It was truly inspiring to witness the contributions of our faculty and alumni as they shared their insights on the evolving maritime landscape. Events like Nor-Shipping reaffirm our commitment to bridging academic excellence with industry practice and to preparing the next generation of maritime leaders to navigate the future with responsibility and purpose”.