Supported by the China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund, the third stage of the China-ASEAN Coastline Sustainable Development Capacity Building and Exchange Platform -- established by Xiamen University -- began its development in April 2019.

The project started with developing a coastline sustainable development management and training platform. It then moved on to develop a system for training marine management personnel at different levels, to promote education cooperation and form a coastline management and training alliance and cooperation network targeting sustainable coastline development.

The platform is expected to become a driving force for the improvement of the country's soft ocean power and the development of its Belt and Road Initiative. It covers the follow areas: 

1. Academic degree courses

With the support of the marine affairs international program and ocean-related academic disciplines at Xiamen University, the project offers a two-year master's degree and a four-year doctorate to students who want to work within the marine and coastline management fields or in ocean management personnel in ASEAN countries.

2. "1+1" academic degrees

Supported by ocean-related disciplines, including the marine affairs course at Xiamen University, the project provides academic degrees for postgraduate students who want to work in the fields of marine and coastline management. The "1+1" academic syllabus is the result of cooperation with overseas universities, designed to jointly train postgraduate students in marine affairs. The students are recruited by overseas universities and are conferred with degrees from international universities. A joint "supervisor team + major supervisor" training model is employed. The supervisor team is composed of teachers from both the domestic university and overseas universities. The students apply for degrees at overseas universities instead of those at Xiamen University.

3. Short-term training

This short-term training program runs one to two weeks. The courses are mainly a series of lectures given by leading teachers or experts that include case studies, group discussions and field trips, mainly in the Chinese mainland. It targets the marine administrative staff of government departments and the middle managers of ocean-related and non-governmental, regional and international organizations in ASEAN countries. It aims to introduce China's advanced coastline management system and technology to ASEAN countries, briefing them on the challenges they face in coastline management and also to explore solutions together.

4. Summer camp

The summer camp has the goal of sharing the city of Xiamen's scientific and coastline management experiences, as well as strengthening academic exchanges and cooperation in the field of marine management between Xiamen University and universities in ASEAN countries. Running seven to 10 days, it uses Xiamen University's scientific and teaching resources in marine science and technology and related inter-disciplines and conducts various activities including lectures, field trips and lab visits for university students in ASEAN countries. The camp also aims to stimulate the interests of students in the study of coastline management.

5.Building a long-term and effective academic exchange and cooperation mechanism. The following sustainable international training platform support systems will be formed on completion of the project:

① Formation of a China-ASEAN marine management new-type training alliance;

② Launch of a China-ASEAN marine management training consultative committee;

③ Establishment of an ASEAN marine affairs talent "1+1" (marine affairs +1) academic degree course demonstration facility;

④ Creation of a Sino-ASEAN ocean-related exchange information system -- including an experts database, a students database, a training knowledge-based and an achievements base -- and a cooperation network.

The 2019 Workshop on Marine Affairs swings into action. [Photo provided to xmicc.org.cn]

The members of the project steering committee get together. [Photo provided to xmicc.org.cn]

Participants consider a topic, during a Regional Training Workshop on Coastal Use Zoning Development and Implementation. [Photo provided to xmicc.org.cn]

A group photo is taken at the 2019 Summer Camp. [Photo provided to xmicc.org.cn]

A selection of images, taken during a training session on coastal sustainable development. [Photo provided to xmicc.org.cn]