04 Preparing Future Logistics Professionals
5. Overview of Educational Programs in the SCM Sector
Preparing Future Logistics Professionals John Webb is the Project Manager for the School of Logistics and Maritime Studies at Bahrain Polytechnic and has responsibility for the academic direction and industry partnerships that are vital to the acceptance of the Bachelor of International Logistics Management (BILM) in Bahrain and the Middle East region. John was educated in New Zealand and holds degrees from two New Zealand universities, he has a Masters Degree in Transport Management from Lincoln University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Auckland. John is relatively new to education having joined Bahrain Polytechnic in 2009 after spending a year as a Lecturer at Lincoln University. Prior to this he spent his nearly twenty years in various roles within the maritime side of the international logistics industry. His first specialized logistics qualification was that of a logistics officer within the Royal New Zealand Navy which provided a solid logistics background and understanding of the maritime environment that would assist in following positions within the industry. After his military career John joined the stevedoring industry in New Zealand as a Stevedoring Supervisor and worked in a number of positions before eventually becoming the General Manager of Operations for New Zealand’s third largest port which is located at Lyttelton. John has substantial experience in all types of cargo operations in a port and shipping environment having managed bulk, general cargo, container terminal, marine and security departments within the New Zealand port environment.
How strong is the demand for logistics / SCM programs in the Middle East? When did you start your program? Why?
Within the ‘Economic Development Board of Bahrain 2030 Vision’ the transport and logistics sector is identified as an industry that has the
Industry Insights Mr. John Webb, Project Manager Bahrain Polytechnic
potential to grow and add value to the Bahrain
of developing a transport and logistics hub
economy in the future. This focus on the indus-
within Bahrain which will be a vital part of the
try has lead to a demand from young Bahraini
future prosperity of the Kingdom. As such the
and other GCC nationals for academic qualifi-
degree course of study is very broad and it is
cation, skills and training that will assist them
planned to offers majors in Supply Chain Man-
in a career in this developing industry.
agement, Maritime Logistics, Aviation Logistics,
To assist young Bahraini and other GCC nation-
Transport Security
als in fulfilling their academic goals, Bahrain Polytechnic has devel-
What is the trend for
“the transport and logistics sector is your university? DeInternational Logistics identified as an industry that has veloping more SCM Management (BILM) programs? the potential to grow and add value which is now in the Once the BILM has second year of delivbeen embedded at to the Bahrain economy� oped the Bachelor of
ery.
Bahrain
Polytechnic
This has led to very strong demand for places
there are plans that could see the delivery of
in the BILM at Bahrain Polytechnic. There are
graduate certificates and diplomas and Mas-
currently 120 students enrolled in the first two
ters level qualifications. The rational for this is
years of the BILM with an expected 80 addi-
to support the progress of individuals already
tional students to begin studies in the degree
working in the industry who need to up-skill in
in September 2011.
order to advance in their career as well as of
The BILM is not strictly a Supply Chain Manage-
individuals that are seeking a career change
ment (SCM) program. It is a logistics degree
from their current industry having identified
that has been designed to meet the challenges
the logistics sector as a growth area with solid
Preparing Future Logistics Professionals
Preparing Future Logistics Professionals It is also being discussed that a SCM major
some success in this process. However we do
could also be offered within the Bachelor of
encounter every semester students keen to
Business Studies that would provide Bahrain
join the program but who have parents that
Polytechnic students who are more focused in
need convincing that the transport and logis-
traditional business careers a background un-
tics industry has opportunities for lifetime ca-
derstanding in the international logistics indus-
reers.
try that can provide them with career options
This has been overcome through education
in this growing industry.
forums with parents and potential students where the make-up, size and opportunities of
As
a
University,
the
international
“the biggest challenge was educating logistics industry are what are the challenges that you are parents of potential students in the discussed. This usufacing while offering ally has a number of basics of the logistics industry� a SCM Program? parents expressing There have been a number of challenges that
their surprise at the number and diversity of
have been faced while developing the BILM. In
the careers available in this industry.
the first year of offering a programme in logis-
Another challenge has been to develop the
tics the biggest challenge was educating par-
acceptance of the BILM and our future gradu-
ents of potential students in the basics of the
ates in the local, regional and international
logistics industry as many had never previously
logistics industry. To assist in this process a
heard of the sector.
Curriculum Advisory Committee (CAC) has
We believe that student demand for positions
been formed that consists of senior managers
in the BILM would show that we have had
within the Bahrain logistics industry. This com-
Industry Insights Mr. John Webb, Project Manager Bahrain Polytechnic
mittee meets to discuss the courses on offer
dards of the education they have received
and provide guidance on the direction of the
through the global recognition of the CILT part-
BILM as a course of study. The importance of
ner awards.
the CAC committee to the BILM students is
Other non CILT sourced courses of study are
that they be assured that what they are learn-
developed on behalf of Bahrain Polytechnic by
ing is in partnership with and relevant to indus-
a group of transport and logistics professors
try.
and academics headed by Emeritus Professor
To ensure that the BILM from Bahrain Poly-
Chris Kissling from Lincoln University. The
technic has international recognition we have
group utilises professionals from across the
partnered with the
logistics sector to
“To ensure international recognition develop papers speChartered Institute of Logistics and we have partnered with the Chartered cifically sourced for Transport (CILT) and Bahrain Polytechnic Institute of Logistics and Transport� their Certificate, and customized for Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses are
local, regional and international perspectives.
embedded within the degree course of study.
This ensures that Bahraini and other nationali-
The certificate level courses are compulsory
ties that study at Bahrain Polytechnic under-
and the other qualifications are optional for
take papers that are of a global standard hav-
students. The CILT based qualifications are
ing been written and audited by well respected
awarded to students as they progress through
academics and industry professionals. This pro-
the BILM. This awarding of duel qualifications
vides graduates with a unique insight into the
will assist BILM students in proving to interna-
potential situations that they will face in their
tional employers the validity and high stan-
working careers.
Preparing Future Logistics Professionals
Preparing Future Logistics Professionals
To support all of the above points the BILM
What is the background of the students / pro-
also has an international monitoring pro-
fessionals?
gramme to ensure that the courses being of-
Currently the majority of our students are
fered are at an internationally accepted stan-
school leavers. This is due to the fact that we
dard. The monitor for the BILM is Professor
are still an institute in a post set up phase. Our
Ross Robinson who is the Dean of the Austra-
long term vision is to be the institute of choice
lian Maritime College at the University of Tas-
for adult learners and those pursuing part-time
mania as well as being a globally respected
study in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
academic in regards to supply
“Our long term vision is What is the ratio between SC tics environment. to be the institute of courses and the rest? Bahrain Polytechnic also delivchoice for adult learners� Which type of courses are the ers degree courses in Busichains and the maritime logis-
students most demanding: Procurement, Sup-
ness, Engineering, Design, Information Tech-
ply Chain Strategy, Freight and Transport?
nology and Office Administration.
The BILM is only on the second year. To date
Bahrain Polytechnic also has a foundation pro-
the areas of maritime logistics and aviation
gramme that many of our students complete
logistics have been identified by our first co-
before undertaking their degree course of
horts of students as their preferred areas of
study. This runs for a semester or two and is
study.
aimed at assisting students in the challenge of completing a degree in a second language. The School of Logistics and Maritime Studies has
Industry Insights Mr. John Webb, Project Manager Bahrain Polytechnic
approximately 10% of the students currently
Employers are looking for graduates that have
enrolled at Bahrain Polytechnic.
a very good academic knowledge of the industry as a whole, traditional business degrees
How many students do you have each year?
with SCM majors will always have their place in
The BILM has two enrollment periods per year.
the market but more and more logistics com-
It was initially expected to have approximately
panies are seeking degree graduates that have
30 students per semester but this is currently
focused primarily on the logistics industry.
being reviewed due to the interest from stu-
As mentioned earlier the BILM involves indus-
dents in the programme. What are the skills that your feel most companies are looking for in
All employers are looking for a solid academic qualification in their potential employees”
try leaders in all phases of the BILM development so that graduates are deemed by employers to be relevant to industry.
the Supply Chain market in the Middle East?
In our relationship with employers we have
All employers are looking for a solid academic
ascertained that academic understanding must
qualification in their potential employees. The
be developed along with a series of critical
Middle East is developing into a centre for
‘soft skills’. These ‘soft’ skills include such
global hubbing and the associated production
things as the importance of appearance and
networks and secondary business functions
punctuality, ability to work individually and in
that develop in trans-shipment and production
groups, confidence in various forms of commu-
hubs.
nications and a desire to be a life long learner.
Preparing Future Logistics Professionals
Industry Insights Mr. John Webb, Project Manager Bahrain Polytechnic
To meet the demands of industry and the ex-
The School of Logistics and Maritime Studies is
pectations of potential employees these ‘soft
also developing a partnership with Maersk
skills’ are embedded within all courses of study
Training that will concentrate on more industry
at the polytechnic and are referred to as
focused skills development. This potential part-
‘employability skills’.
nership will allow students to be trained by a global logistics leader and will allow the devel-
Do you have any special partnership with any
opment of specialized skills in such areas as the
company in the region?
maritime and offshore industries.
As mentioned above
The companies in“The companies involved in assisting Bahrain industry leadvolved in assisting ers have been fully the development of the BILM have the development of involved in the develthe BILM have been been extremely supportive” opment of the BILM
extremely supportive
which has formed close partnerships with a
as they all recognize the importance of edu-
number of Bahraini and Bahrain entities of
cated and motivated staff to the future devel-
large multi-nationals. The BILM development
opment and potential of their companies and
has been closely assisted by APM Terminals,
organizations.
Agility, the General Organisation of Seaports in Bahrain, the Kingdom of Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs, DHL, First Bahrain and others.