Honored to Receive Honorary Doctoral Degree from Poland’s Gdynia Maritime University
Published on June 2, 2026
During my visit to Poland in late January, I attended a ceremony at Gdynia Maritime University (GMU), one of Europe’s leading maritime universities, where I was formally awarded the honorary title of Doctor honoris causa.
“The title of Doctor honoris causa of Gdynia Maritime University is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development of science, culture, the economy, maritime education and social life, and whose work and achievements represent a lasting contribution to the academic community and society,” the university said in a statement.
Poland’s oldest maritime university, based on the Baltic Sea coast in Gdynia, is a modern hub of learning and research with its own fleet of training ships, yachts and motorboats, a planetarium, sports and recreation facilities, laboratories, simulators, and a student bar and club.
The January 27 ceremonial meeting of the GMU senate, convened to confer this distinguished honor, began with the traditional tapping of glasses.
Participants gathered in the Tadeusz Meissner Auditorium, where members of the senate, representatives of the university council, university staff and invited guests were welcomed by Professor Adam Weintrit, GMU’s rector.
In his ceremonial address, Professor Weintrit highlighted my achievements, drawing attention to my work through The Nippon Foundation:
“Dr. Yohei Sasakawa is a figure of exceptional authority, combining a vision of responsible leadership with tangible action undertaken in the service of peace, sustainable development and cooperation among nations. His activities, carried out through The Nippon Foundation, have for decades contributed to the advancement of maritime education, the protection of the ocean environment, maritime safety and security, and the building of bridges of understanding between the cultures of the East and the West.”
Professor Weintrit also emphasized the significance of the honor conferred by the university:
“Gdynia Maritime University, faithful to its mission of educating intellectual and professional elites for the maritime economy and transport sector, acknowledges with the highest esteem the contribution of Dr. Yohei Sasakawa to strengthening the role of knowledge, dialogue and responsibility in the global maritime domain.
“These values are fully aligned with the mission of our university. A tangible manifestation of his engagement in maritime affairs is the co-financing of the activities of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU). As a member of the IAMU International Executive Board in the years 2000–2025, and particularly during the period when I had the honor of serving as chairman of the association in 2023–2025, I had several occasions to meet personally with Dr. Sasakawa.
“These meetings were invariably of great significance; one could clearly sense that we were discussing matters of genuine importance for maritime safety, such as the joint initiative of The Nippon Foundation and the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) within the framework of The Nippon Foundation–GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project, aimed at mapping the entire ocean floor by the year 2030.
“The conferral of the title of Doctor honoris causa is not only an act of honoring the extraordinary achievements of the honoree, but also a symbol of friendship, respect and cooperation between academic communities and institutions working for the future of the seas and oceans. We are convinced that this ceremony will be permanently inscribed in the history of Gdynia Maritime University as an event of special significance.”
The laudation was delivered by Professor Janusz Mindykowski, who presented my profile and accomplishments:
“The acceptance of this honorary doctorate by Dr. Yohei Sasakawa is a great honor and distinction not only for the distinguished candidate, but also for Gdynia Maritime University. I am convinced that he will continue to contribute significant value to the development of our university, serving as its prominent ambassador as well as a pioneer in international maritime education as a whole.
“His complete dedication to fighting social exclusion in many forms and the protection of the Earth’s resources, focused on the common heritage of seas and oceans, fully deserves to be awarded with an honorary doctorate from Gdynia Maritime University. Therefore, I am deeply convinced that the honorary title of doctor honoris causa of our university is conferred on the most deserving recipient.”
The diploma, prepared in Polish and English, was read by the rector, while the Latin text of the conferral was read by the master of ceremonies, Mr. Aleksander Gosk, adding a particularly solemn character to the occasion.
After being awarded the honorary title of Doctor honoris causa by Gdynia Maritime University (GMU) at a
ceremony on January 27, I addressed the audience to express my gratitude:
“I feel deeply grateful for the honor you have bestowed upon me today. I understand that this honorary doctoral degree recognizes my contribution to maritime policy development and the promotion of safety at sea, as well as my broader engagement in peace building and international cooperation through my humanitarian activities. Yet, for me, this honor is not a conclusion: it is a reminder of why I came to devote myself to this lifetime commitment.”
After referring to the life-changing experience of war during my childhood, I stressed the fundamental importance of maritime transport and the role of maritime universities in educating specialists for the future:
“Even today, more than 90% of global logistics is supported by maritime transport, making the safe navigation of ships indispensable to the survival of humankind.
“At the same time, with the ongoing development of hydrogen engines and other technological innovations in the maritime sector, we are entering an era where seafarers will be required to acquire new skills. In this context, the importance of maritime universities, including Gdynia Maritime University, which is dedicated to training the next generation of maritime professionals who are able to respond to new demands, will only continue to grow.”
I concluded my address with gratitude and an acknowledgement of those who worked with me. I then paid tribute to Gdynia Maritime University, saying: “In closing, I would like to express my profound respect for the achievements of Gdynia Maritime University, and my heartfelt hope that the education fostered here will continue to inspire and empower the next generation.”
Later in the ceremony, the master of ceremonies informed attendees of the congratulatory letters received on my behalf to mark the award of the honorary doctorate.
The ceremony concluded with the unveiling of my name on the commemorative plaque honoring recipients of Gdynia Maritime University’s Doctor honoris causa, symbolically inscribing me in the university’s history.
To mark the occasion, Gdynia Maritime University published a commemorative book titled “Dr. Yohei Sasakawa. Doctor Honoris Causa of Gdynia Maritime University.”
