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B2G CONSULTING TOP STORIES: Preparing Future Logistics Professionals by Bahrain Polytechnic

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Preparing Future Logistics Professionals

04

5. Overview of Educational Programs in the SCM Sector

John Webb is the Project Manager for the School of Logistics and Maritime Studies at Bahrain Polytech-

nic and has responsibility for the academic direction and industry partnerships that are vital to the ac-

ceptance 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 Supervi-

sor and worked in a number of positions before eventually becoming the General Manager of Opera-

tions 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.

Preparing Future Logistics Professionals

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

Mr. John Webb, Project Manager

Bahrain Polytechnic

Industry

Insights

potential to grow and add value to the Bahrain

economy in the future. This focus on the indus-

try has lead to a demand from young Bahraini

and other GCC nationals for academic qualifi-

cation, skills and training that will assist them

in a career in this developing industry.

To assist young Bahraini and other GCC nation-

als in fulfilling their academic goals, Bahrain

Polytechnic has devel-

oped the Bachelor of

International Logistics

Management (BILM)

which is now in the

second year of deliv-

ery.

This has led to very strong demand for places

in the BILM at Bahrain Polytechnic. There are

currently 120 students enrolled in the first two

years of the BILM with an expected 80 addi-

tional students to begin studies in the degree

in September 2011.

The BILM is not strictly a Supply Chain Manage-

ment (SCM) program. It is a logistics degree

that has been designed to meet the challenges

of developing a transport and logistics hub

within Bahrain which will be a vital part of the

future prosperity of the Kingdom. As such the

degree course of study is very broad and it is

planned to offers majors in Supply Chain Man-

agement, Maritime Logistics, Aviation Logistics,

Transport Security

What is the trend for

your university? De-

veloping more SCM

programs?

Once the BILM has

been embedded at

Bahrain Polytechnic

there are plans that could see the delivery of

graduate certificates and diplomas and Mas-

ters level qualifications. The rational for this is

to support the progress of individuals already

working in the industry who need to up-skill in

order to advance in their career as well as of

individuals that are seeking a career change

from their current industry having identified

the logistics sector as a growth area with solid

“the transport and logistics sector is

identified as an industry that has

the potential to grow and add value

to the Bahrain economy”

Preparing Future Logistics Professionals

Preparing Future Logistics Professionals

It is also being discussed that a SCM major

could also be offered within the Bachelor of

Business Studies that would provide Bahrain

Polytechnic students who are more focused in

traditional business careers a background un-

derstanding in the international logistics indus-

try that can provide them with career options

in this growing industry.

As a University,

what are the chal-

lenges that you are

facing while offering

a SCM Program?

There have been a number of challenges that

have been faced while developing the BILM. In

the first year of offering a programme in logis-

tics the biggest challenge was educating par-

ents of potential students in the basics of the

logistics industry as many had never previously

heard of the sector.

We believe that student demand for positions

in the BILM would show that we have had

some success in this process. However we do

encounter every semester students keen to

join the program but who have parents that

need convincing that the transport and logis-

tics industry has opportunities for lifetime ca-

reers.

This has been overcome through education

forums with parents and potential students

where the make-up, size and opportunities of

the international

logistics industry are

discussed. This usu-

ally has a number of

parents expressing

their surprise at the number and diversity of

the careers available in this industry.

Another challenge has been to develop the

acceptance of the BILM and our future gradu-

ates in the local, regional and international

logistics industry. To assist in this process a

Curriculum Advisory Committee (CAC) has

been formed that consists of senior managers

within the Bahrain logistics industry. This com-

“the biggest challenge was educating

parents of potential students in the

basics of the logistics industry”

Mr. John Webb, Project Manager

Bahrain Polytechnic

Industry

Insights

mittee meets to discuss the courses on offer

and provide guidance on the direction of the

BILM as a course of study. The importance of

the CAC committee to the BILM students is

that they be assured that what they are learn-

ing is in partnership with and relevant to indus-

try.

To ensure that the BILM from Bahrain Poly-

technic has international recognition we have

partnered with the

Chartered Institute

of Logistics and

Transport (CILT) and

their Certificate,

Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses are

embedded within the degree course of study.

The certificate level courses are compulsory

and the other qualifications are optional for

students. The CILT based qualifications are

awarded to students as they progress through

the BILM. This awarding of duel qualifications

will assist BILM students in proving to interna-

tional employers the validity and high stan-

dards of the education they have received

through the global recognition of the CILT part-

ner awards.

Other non CILT sourced courses of study are

developed on behalf of Bahrain Polytechnic by

a group of transport and logistics professors

and academics headed by Emeritus Professor

Chris Kissling from Lincoln University. The

group utilises professionals from across the

logistics sector to

develop papers spe-

cifically sourced for

Bahrain Polytechnic

and customized for

local, regional and international perspectives.

This ensures that Bahraini and other nationali-

ties that study at Bahrain Polytechnic under-

take papers that are of a global standard hav-

ing been written and audited by well respected

academics and industry professionals. This pro-

vides graduates with a unique insight into the

potential situations that they will face in their

working careers.

“To ensure international recognition

we have partnered with the Chartered

Institute of Logistics and Transport”

Preparing Future Logistics Professionals

To support all of the above points the BILM

also has an international monitoring pro-

gramme to ensure that the courses being of-

fered are at an internationally accepted stan-

dard. The monitor for the BILM is Professor

Ross Robinson who is the Dean of the Austra-

lian Maritime College at the University of Tas-

mania as well as being a globally respected

academic in regards to supply

chains and the maritime logis-

tics environment.

Which type of courses are the

students most demanding: Procurement, Sup-

ply Chain Strategy, Freight and Transport?

The BILM is only on the second year. To date

the areas of maritime logistics and aviation

logistics have been identified by our first co-

horts of students as their preferred areas of

study.

What is the background of the students / pro-

fessionals?

Currently the majority of our students are

school leavers. This is due to the fact that we

are still an institute in a post set up phase. Our

long term vision is to be the institute of choice

for adult learners and those pursuing part-time

study in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

What is the ratio between SC

courses and the rest?

Bahrain Polytechnic also deliv-

ers degree courses in Busi-

ness, Engineering, Design, Information Tech-

nology and Office Administration.

Bahrain Polytechnic also has a foundation pro-

gramme that many of our students complete

before undertaking their degree course of

study. This runs for a semester or two and is

aimed at assisting students in the challenge of

completing a degree in a second language. The

School of Logistics and Maritime Studies has

Preparing Future Logistics Professionals

“Our long term vision is

to be the institute of

choice for adult learners”

Industry

Insights

approximately 10% of the students currently

enrolled at Bahrain Polytechnic.

How many students do you have each year?

The BILM has two enrollment periods per year.

It was initially expected to have approximately

30 students per semester but this is currently

being reviewed due to the interest from stu-

dents in the programme.

What are the skills that

your feel most compa-

nies are looking for in

the Supply Chain market in the Middle East?

All employers are looking for a solid academic

qualification in their potential employees. The

Middle East is developing into a centre for

global hubbing and the associated production

networks and secondary business functions

that develop in trans-shipment and production

hubs.

Employers are looking for graduates that have

a very good academic knowledge of the indus-

try as a whole, traditional business degrees

with SCM majors will always have their place in

the market but more and more logistics com-

panies are seeking degree graduates that have

focused primarily on the logistics industry.

As mentioned earlier the BILM involves indus-

try leaders in all phases

of the BILM development

so that graduates are

deemed by employers to

be relevant to industry.

In our relationship with employers we have

ascertained that academic understanding must

be developed along with a series of critical

‘soft skills’. These ‘soft’ skills include such

things as the importance of appearance and

punctuality, ability to work individually and in

groups, confidence in various forms of commu-

nications and a desire to be a life long learner.

Mr. John Webb, Project Manager

Bahrain Polytechnic

All employers are looking for a

solid academic qualification in

their potential employees”

Preparing Future Logistics Professionals

To meet the demands of industry and the ex-

pectations of potential employees these ‘soft

skills’ are embedded within all courses of study

at the polytechnic and are referred to as

‘employability skills’.

Do you have any special partnership with any

company in the region?

As mentioned above

Bahrain industry lead-

ers have been fully

involved in the devel-

opment of the BILM

which has formed close partnerships with a

number of Bahraini and Bahrain entities of

large multi-nationals. The BILM development

has been closely assisted by APM Terminals,

Agility, the General Organisation of Seaports in

Bahrain, the Kingdom of Bahrain Civil Aviation

Affairs, DHL, First Bahrain and others.

The School of Logistics and Maritime Studies is

also developing a partnership with Maersk

Training that will concentrate on more industry

focused skills development. This potential part-

nership will allow students to be trained by a

global logistics leader and will allow the devel-

opment of specialized skills in such areas as the

maritime and offshore industries.

The companies in-

volved in assisting

the development of

the BILM have been

extremely supportive

as they all recognize the importance of edu-

cated and motivated staff to the future devel-

opment and potential of their companies and

organizations.

Industry

Insights

“The companies involved in assisting

the development of the BILM have

been extremely supportive”

Mr. John Webb, Project Manager

Bahrain Polytechnic