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Chris Oliver

Industry professionals in the transport and logistics field can enhance their career prospects by enrolling in part-time programmes leading to membership of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Hong Kong (CILT).

The Professional Diploma in Logistics and Transport Management, offered through HKU SPACE, requires students to complete nine courses over three years.

On completion of the part-time programme, graduates will have fulfilled all educational requirements for chartered membership in CILT. It is the only programme of its kind in Hong Kong with this accreditation.

Course director Jackson Cho Kut-suen says CILT membership is a fast-track to higher level jobs.

'If they get the CILT it will enable them to proceed to a better position in the logistics and transport field,' Mr Cho says, adding that most students in the programme have a minimum of five years' work experience.

Students are required to complete six regular stream courses, and a three-course specialisation in either logistics or transport. Roughly 50 students will be admitted to the programme, which begins in September. On average, most students are in their mid-30s and already hold jobs in the industry.

Classes are held at the HKU SPACE Admiralty campus during weekday evenings. Tuition fees for the programme are HK$5,000 per course, or HK$45,000 to complete the nine-course programme.

Membership in CILT is recognised as equivalent in status to a university degree, and a prerequisite for advancement in organisations such as MTR Corp and KCRC.

The CILT represents 1,300 members from industry groups varying from logistics, shipping, airlines, railways, road and public transport, to government and academic institutions. Set up in 1968 as a branch of Britain's Chartered Institute of Transport, it was upgraded to the Hong Kong Section in 1972, and finally gained National Council status in 1972.

According to a survey conducted by the Vocational Training Council last year, manpower needs in transport are expected to grow by an average 2.5 per cent a year. This means the 79,000 member logistics workforce will grow by about 2,000 jobs per year.

Another course option, available through the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), is targeted at industry professionals at advanced stages of their career development.

The Executive Diploma in Transportation Logistics Management is a nine-month part-time programme designed to attract executives in logistics-related industries who work in both the shipping and carrying roles.

Programme director Dr Raymond Cheung says mixing different groups encourages dialogue and helps students to come to grips with relevant issues from different perspectives.

'Our thinking is to have participants who are both shippers, that means users, and also carriers or service providers,' Dr Cheung says.

Graduates will be eligible for membership in CILT as long as they meet basic admission requirements.

Dr Cheung says membership would be an asset, but he concedes that the potential benefits are limited largely because graduates in the programme already hold senior posts.

'The chartership is a kind of recognition of their professionalism,' Dr Cheung says.

'But the participants in our programme have already achieved a pretty high position within the industry.' The average student attending the HKUST programme is in their mid- to late 30s and already working in a mid-management position.

Full-day classes are held on alternative Saturdays at HKUST's Clearwater Bay campus. Forty places will be on offer for the programme beginning in September. Instruction is in English, while the programme is administered through HKUST's School of Engineering.

The programme fee is HK$45,000, which covers tuition, handouts and lunches.

'This programme is not good for a fresh graduate; it is more suited to someone who holds a mid-management position,' Dr Cheung says, adding that recent students have an average of 10 years' work experience.



Professional diplomas a fast-track to higher-level jobs and recognition