Abstract
The Nippon Foundation–Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (NF–POGO) Centre of Excellence (CofE, https://pogo-ocean.org/capacity-development/centre-of-excellence/) has provided advanced training in observational oceanography since 2008. Each year, a cohort of 10 scholars is selected to participate in this 10-month postgraduate-level program, which consists of expert-led instruction and hands-on experience. The CofE targets early-career ocean professionals (ECOPs), primarily from developing economies, and addresses global disparities in oceanographic expertise and resources, offering scholars unique opportunities.