Educational programmes provide support
UNIVERSITIES AND other training institutions realise that for the logistics industry to continue to play a major role in Hong Kong's economy, there must be sufficient courses available to support its development.
Local tertiary-level institutions and professional bodies offer more than 130 logistics-related programmes covering cargo tracking, procurement, materials management, quality control, IT and finance.
John Liu, a professor at the PolyU maritime studies, department of logistics, said that global supply chains simply could not operate without ocean transport.
'International shipping and logistics are vital industries for Hong Kong, the PolyU provides full and part-time programmes to support them,' Professor Liu said.
He said demand from logistics companies for good staff virtually ensured that graduates could find a job in the industry. The department received more than 9,000 applications from mainland students during its latest enrolment.
The programmes on offer include BBA and MSc courses in global supply chain management or international shipping and transport logistics. There is also a BSc in logistics engineering and management, a higher diploma in international transport logistics and an MSc in quality management.
Some students can apply for shipping and transport-endowed fellowships, which are funded by donations from the maritime and logistics industries.
The logistics and transport professional development centre at Hong Kong University's School of Professional and Continuing Education also offers a number of courses.
These include an MSc in international shipping and logistics, and professional diplomas in China logistics and strategic procurement management.
