preparing future logistics professionals
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B2G CONSULTING TOP STORIES: Preparing Future Logistics Professionals by Bahrain PolytechnicTRANSCRIPT
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