Kenya Receives World's Largest Floating University Charging Ksh6M Per Semester [PHOTOS]
The vessel, which operates academic voyages for students will be in Mombasa for six days until Valentine's Day on February 14.
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Cruise vessel World Odyssey, which is the world's largest floating university, arrived at the port of Mombasa in Kenya on Friday morning, February 9, her third visit to the Coastal City.
Popularly known as “Semester at Sea” the vessel, which operates academic voyages for students will be in Mombasa for six days until Valentine's Day on February 14.
Aboard the ship is 763 passengers, of which 585 are students who will visit institutions of higher learning for educational tours, conduct excursions around the city and visit various wildlife parks during their stay. MV World Odyssey charges Ksh6 million per semester.
"Semester at Sea carries students around the world learning the histories of the countries they visit. The students are of mixed nationalities with one Kenyan student aboard. She sailed from India and will be visiting Mauritius as the next port of call," stated the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) which announced the arrival of the ship.
World's largest floating University, World Odyssey docks at the port of Mombasa on February 9, 2024. /KENYA PORTS AUTHORITY
MV World Odyssey Features
The passenger cruise ship was built in 1998 (26 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of the Bahamas. The ship offers a unique living and learning environment.
"Between adjusting to classes, meeting new friends, and tackling global issues, you will discover the joys of shipboard life. You will claim a favourite dining hall, enjoy eating meals with your professors, and set your alarm for sunsets and stargazing nights.
"Our ship environment is similar to a small liberal arts campus — the ideal place where students and professors live, work, and socialize together. Semester at Sea’s living-learning community provides a platform for education, discussion, and deep connections all while travelling to new locations," states the vessel on its official website.
MV World Odyssey accommodates up to 550 undergraduate, gap year, and recent college graduate students representing majors from 270+ colleges and universities.
Every voyage sails under the leadership of an Executive Dean, Academic Dean, and Dean of Student Life. Semester at Sea attracts nationally renowned, award-winning faculty who are passionate about international education. The staff includes the Field Program, communications, and medical teams.
The Dean of Students and a team of resident directors bring the community together and organize extracurricular programming. This team focuses on developing a dynamic and synergistic relationship between academic instruction and co-curricular learning.
The Semester at Sea Lifelong Learning Program provides adult learners, who are 30 years of age or older, with an opportunity to join the SAS academic community.
Lifelong learners add a valuable generational element to the shipboard community. They are retirees, professionals on leave, or simply adventurous travellers who desire to study with bright, enthusiastic undergraduate students from around the world.
The ship also features interport lecturers who are international scholars or professors living abroad who are selected for their deep knowledge of culture, practice, or field of study. They join a segment of a voyage and participate in intercultural briefings.
Interport students are undergraduates from universities around the world who contribute to classes and give presentations about their culture.
The captain and his officers manage ship operations and voyage execution to ensure the safe passage and health of all participants. Many have been a part of Semester at Sea voyages for years.
Just like other institutions of higher learning, the ship has reception and administrative offices, where there is a welcoming reception desk area with around-the-clock crew presence as well as the Semester at Sea field programme and administrative staff.
World's largest floating University, World Odyssey docks at the port of Mombasa on February 9, 2024. /KENYA PORTS AUTHORITY
It has nine classrooms, each with state-of-the-art technology to support learning plus a fitness space including an indoor gym. Outside features include a spacious sun deck for recreational activities, including a basketball and a volleyball court. It also has a pool where passengers can enjoy swimming.
The floating campus had an extensive visit to the country calling the port last year and in 2022. Port of Mombasa has recorded an increase in cruise vessel calls pointing to improved connectivity of the port and a hub for cruise tourism in Africa.
Last week, Mombasa port hosted; MSC Poesia one of the biggest cruise vessels to have called the port.
