It is both an honor and a privilege to welcome you to this amazing institute. I can assure each and every one of you that you are here because you deserve to be, and because you can bring something new and exciting to this diverse learning community. What the maritime industry can offer to the world is tremendous. The segments covered is wide ranging and much unexplored in this region. The latent wealth residing in this compliant rich industry is abundant; and opportunities for participating in the related specialized activities are enormous. The human capital element has now become the greatest concern. Not only are the operations more sophisticated but new approaches and methodologies are needed to resolve contemporary challenges. Therefore there is the need for a revolution in pragmatic education and learning methodologies. The young adults today are probably one of the most-analyzed generations ever. Generally it is noted that they have no allegiance to the workplace of the past, have been exposed to videos and computers since childhood, are accustomed to a fast pace, want interactive learning, and thrive on high levels of stimulation and change.

Present day proactive youth are wanting a more dynamic system of education that will provide adventurous learning and better options in utilizing their capabilities to the fullest. They want a future that will position them strategically to have better control of their lives. They want to grow in an industry that is renovating itself and providing challenges; and promising rewarding careers. They want to be part of the catalyst of change in transforming the industry. They have a dream of making this world a better place. Nations today have a mission of transforming itself into a developed status in all sense, with value system. This is a great challenge. This can be achieved through our youth power that has got the domination of ideas, ambition, enthusiasm and ability. This resource of the youth is an important building block for transforming any maritime nation to attain a new strategic position.

The possibilities are now there in SMC. Research and development activities will be intensive. Specific fit for purpose programs are also offered. Frontiers will be redefined. The standards of education offered will be benchmarked by international institutions. Programs developed are a hybrid of diverse requirements of the international best practices. Faculty members are carefully selected, having an excellent combination of academic achievement and industrial experience. Effective teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross, then having facilitated their crossing, encouraging them to create bridges of their own. Great teachers lead the students to the threshold of their mind, applying cutting edge knowledge technology. Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better. Learning to embrace change will open doors of opportunities. My best wishes to all the Students, who with the support and guidance of the Teachers, and Staff of SMC; will fulfill in their missions of developing as enlightened citizens and actively participating in transforming many more developed maritime nations of the world. Most of them studying in SMC expect not only education but also SMC must give them much more; preparing them for the unexpected; making a difference to the world. We must all create a better future.