Teaching an old horse new tricks

The Middle East airfreight sector is experiencing a period of rapid growth, with aircraft becoming more efficient, technology becoming more competent and airports becoming more capable. However, whilst these developments should be celebrated, the industry should also concentrate on developing the skills base of employees.

Providing your employees with training opportunities has several benefits. In addition to increasing the efficiency and motivation of your workforce, it can create a competitive advantage over rivals. Also, considering the skills shortage currently affecting the industry, what better way to tackle the crisis? By encouraging employees to develop skills and climb up the corporate ladder, a company becomes less reliant on looking externally for new talent.

Although the availability of training opportunities in the Middle East has proved lacking in the past, it seems change is afoot. The Oman Air Training Centre was recently authorised by the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) to offer a specialised diploma for airfreight professionals. After completing the educational course, which has been developed by international experts, students will gain a globally recognised certificate and have the confidence to manage various airfreight activities.

Logistics companies are also jumping on the training bandwagon. The regional powerhouses Agility, Aramex and GAC are pioneering the concept of inhouse universities in the Middle East. The three companies, which offer a range of air cargo services, have established their own educational institutions within the past few months, offering various development courses within their organisations.

These innovations showcase the region's strong desire to meet, and perhaps eventually exceed, global standards. They have successfully set the ball rolling and further projects will undoubtedly be announced in the near future - something we'll be monitoring very closely in the magazine.

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READERS' COMMENTS

InHouse or Outsource Logistics Training
Posted by Prof Philbert Suresh, Scarborough, Canada on Sunday 22 April 2007 at 18:04 UAE time


One of the complexities in organic growth of a global company is whether to ousource and build knowledge centres within. Both of the approaches involve considerable expenses and it is true as a trend that branded and reputed companies grow their talent within under control of a master training and development strtategy for optimistic results.  
 
Knowledge creating and development is not a core competency of these forward-looking companies. So it is dangerous to tread a path of learning that turns tacit knowledge into explicit one. 
May this strategy meet with all success.

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