1. General provisions
1.1 The Estonian Maritime Academy (hereinafter “the Maritime Academy”), abbreviated as EMERA, is an academic unit of Tallinn University of Technology (hereinafter “the university”).
1.2 The Estonian name of the Maritime Academy is Eesti Mereakadeemia.
1.3 The Estonian Maritime Academy operates in accordance with the university’s and its own Statutes, the conventions of the International Maritime Organization, including the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers of 1978 (hereinafter “the STCW Convention”), as amended, the Maritime Safety Act (hereinafter “the MSA”), and other applicable legislation.
1.4 The Maritime Academy is the legal successor of the Estonian Maritime Academy (a professional higher education institution).
1.5 The Maritime Academy is located in Tallinn. Structural units of the Maritime Academy may also be located in other parts of Estonia. The address or addresses of the units can be found on the quality management system certificate and the activity licence.
1.6 The Maritime Academy has its own insignia. The Director holds a badge of office.
1.7 The right to organise formal and continuing education for crew members at the Maritime Academy shall be evidenced by a certificate of conformity for the quality management system, issued by an independent audit organisation, and by an activity licence issued by the Estonian Transport Administration (hereinafter “TRAM”).
2. Mission and functions
2.1 The Maritime Academy fulfils the university’s mission in the maritime field, as outlined in subsection 2(1) of the university’s Statutes.
2.2 In order to fulfil its mission, the Maritime Academy shall:
2.2.1 perform the functions within its field of activity, as set out in subsection 2(2) of the university’s Statutes;
2.2.2 carry out teaching, research, and development activities in accordance with the quality management system established on the basis of the ISO 9001 standard;
2.2.3 provide continuing education services in the maritime field and issue the corresponding certificates;
2.2.4 cooperate with international organisations, state and local government agencies, employers, professional associations and societies, and educational institutions in Estonia and abroad to develop maritime education and ensure maritime safety;
2.2.5 create the conditions for students to acquire management skills and experience, teach them maritime traditions, and foster the habits and personal qualities necessary for maritime service;
2.2.6 promote academic practices;
2.2.7 develop a maritime library and contribute to the development of maritime terminology and the collection of materials on maritime history and the history of maritime education;
2.2.8 develop the Maritime Academy into a centre of excellence in the maritime field in Estonia;
2.2.9 compile and publish educational and scientific literature in the maritime field;
2.2.10 perform other functions arising from the university’s Statutes, the Statutes of the Maritime Academy and other legislation.
3. Principles of management and organizational structure
3.1 The Maritime Academy is a school-level academic unit and operates according to the same principles as a school.
3.2 The Maritime Academy has all the rights and obligations of a school and a department, and its director has all the rights and obligations of a dean and a head of a department unless specified otherwise in the university’s Statutes or the Statutes of the Estonian Maritime Academy.
3.3 The principles governing the structure of the Maritime Academy and the operation of its units shall be approved by the Director.
4. Council
4.1 The academic decision-making body of the Maritime Academy is the Council.
4.2 The Director is the Chair of the Council.
4.3 The Council shall be established, and its membership approved by the Rector upon the Director’s proposal, for a term of up to three years.
4.4 The Council shall include:
4.4.1 the Director;
4.4.2 the Deputy Directors;
4.4.3 four representatives of the academic staff;
4.4.4 three student representatives, including one PhD student representative;
4.4.5 up to three external members appointed by the Director.
4.5 The Council shall be convened by the Director, who shall also serve as Chair of the Council and preside over its meetings.
4.6 The Council has the competence
4.6.1 of a school council, as set out in § 19 of the university’s Statutes;
4.6.2 to submit proposals to the university Senate for amendments to the Statutes of the Maritime Academy;
4.6.3 to establish the principles governing the Council’s work and the procedures for conducting its meetings in the rules of procedure;
4.6.4 to perform other functions arising from legislation.
5. Director
5.1 The Maritime Academy shall be led by a Director. The Director shall be responsible for the overall condition, development, and reputation of the Maritime Academy, for the lawful and efficient use of its financial resources and shall exercise administrative authority within the limits of his/her powers.
5.2 The Rector, having considered the opinion of the Council of the Maritime Academy, appoints the Director for a term of up to five years. The Director must hold at least a master’s degree or an equivalent qualification and have management experience in the maritime sector.
5.3 The Rector has the right to remove the Director from office.
5.4 The Director issues orders within the scope of his/her authority.
5.5 The Director has the competence:
5.5.1 of a dean, as set out in § 21, and of a head of a department as set out in § 27 of the university’s Statutes, and is a member of top management within the meaning of the ISO 9001 standard;
5.5.2 to organise teaching, research, and development activities;
5.5.3 to appoint Deputy Directors and act as their immediate superior;
5.5.4 to organise the activities of the Directorate;
5.5.5 to coordinate with TRAM the study programmes approved by the university Senate for the formal education of crew members;
5.5.6 to approve, in coordination with TRAM, the study programmes for the continuing education of crew members;
5.5.7 to form examination committees for the formal and continuing education of crew members;
5.5.8 to approve the documentation of the Maritime Academy’s quality management system and ensure its compliance with the university’s legislation;
5.5.9 to approve the description of the uniform and insignia for Maritime Academy staff and for students enrolled in study programmes for crew member training regulated by the MSA;
5.5.10 to adopt resolutions on the awarding of decorations of the Maritime Academy;
5.5.11 to perform other functions arising from legislation.
6. Assets and financing
6.1 The Maritime Academy possesses and uses the university’s assets.
6.2 The Director shall organise and take the necessary measures to ensure the possession, use, and preservation of the assets.
6.3 A budget for the income and expenses of the Maritime Academy shall be prepared as part of the university’s budget.
7. Reporting, auditing, and supervision
7.1 The Maritime Academy shall report on its economic activities, which shall be audited in accordance with the procedure laid down by law.
7.2 Compliance of the Maritime Academy’s quality management system with the ISO 9001 standard and the STCW Convention shall be ensured through internal quality management system audits and management reviews.
7.3 External audits of the Maritime Academy’s quality management system shall be conducted by independent auditing organisations.
7.4 Supervision of the formal and continuing education of crew members to ensure compliance with the MSA and STCW Convention shall be carried out by the Estonian Transport Administration.
8. Implementing provisions
9. The Estonian Maritime Academy of Tallinn University of Technology has been granted activity licence number MES000003 by the Estonian Transport Administration, as recorded in the Register of Economic Activities. Under the activity licence, the Maritime Academy is authorised to provide formal and continuing education for crew members, as set out in Chapter 5 of the Maritime Safety Act.