News in 2025
|
Global hydrography in focus: FIG vice president calls for stronger
China-IBSC collaboration
12 November 2025, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
On November 12 2025, the Stakeholder Workshop of
the International
Board on Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors and Nautical
Cartographers (IBSC) was held at Shandong University of Science and
Technology in Qingdao, Shandong Province in China.
FIG Vice President Professor Qin Yan attended the workshop and
delivered a speech. IBSC Chair Sobri Syawie and board
members participated in the workshop both in person and online.
In
her address, FIG Vice President Qin Yan (pictured on
the right) extended a warm
welcome to the IBSC board members and FIG colleagues. She expressed
gratitude for their significant contributions to promoting qualification
standards for international hydrographic surveyors and nautical
cartographers. She also congratulated Shandong University of Science and
Technology on receiving the IBSC International Class A certification.
She put forward two suggestions during the meeting:
- First, she expressed hope that the IBSC would further enhance
its support for China. She looks forward to the IBSC providing
tailored interpretation and training of certification standards
based on the characteristics of Chinese institutions, opening
broader channels for resource sharing, and exploring the joint
establishment of a “Chinese University Certification Plan” with
relevant Chinese societies. This initiative aims to help more
qualified universities efficiently align with international
standards, transforming China's educational scale into a global
reservoir of hydrographic surveying talent.
- Secondly, she hoped that Shandong University of Science and
Technology would serve as a model of “Chinese practice”. She
encouraged the university to offer replicable experience for other
domestic universities to drive the overall improvement of marine
surveying education in China. Furthermore, leveraging its role as
the national representative to the FIG Commission 4 (Hydrography),
the university was encouraged to more actively engage in
international affairs, promote the refinement of IBSC standards,
disseminate Chinese technological achievements, and participate in
international standard-setting and certification services.
The workshop was hosted by the IBSC and organized by Shandong
University of Science and Technology. Themed “Promoting the
Internationalization of Hydrographic Education and Joint Standard
Construction”, the event focused on frontier technologies, educational
standards, and global cooperation in the field of hydrographic
surveying.
IBSC members from 13 countries participate, including Indonesia,
Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, and Brazil. Experts from
domestic institutions such as the China Maritime Safety Administration,
the Chinese Society for Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography (CSGPC),
the Chinese Society for Oceanography, and the Chinese Society for
Oceanology and Limnology also attended. Representatives from
marine-related units, including Institut Teknologi Bandung (Indonesia),
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Dalian Maritime University, Ocean
University of China, China University of Petroleum, the First Institute
of Oceanography of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao Surveying
and Mapping Institute, Beijing Hydro-Tech Marine Technology Co., Ltd.,
and Qingdao Yuehai Information Service Co., Ltd., participated in the
exchange.
This event established a high-level exchange platform for global
hydrographic surveying experts and promoted the international alignment
and collaborative development of education in hydrographic surveying and
nautical cartography.
FIG Vice President Professor
Qin Yan
24 November 2025
