Mr. Wilson Kam Committee Member Hong Kong Logistics Association

How should you deal with a smoking warehouse? How can goods be arranged in order to make use of every inch of space in a container? How should you handle containers of frozen or fresh goods, or goods belonging to the dangerous category? What can you do when the freight gets stuck mid-way? You may not find answers to these questions in a textbook.

"Theories are not enough for logistics professionals; practical experience and problem-solving skills are more important," says Mr. Wilson Kam, committee member of the Hong Kong Logistics Association and managing director of a logistics consultancy company.

With the Hong Kong government's strong push for developing the logistics industry, the number of enrollments in logistics courses have soared significantly in recent years. Mr. Kam advises that students without a degree may start from a certificate course in logistics, then go step by step from diploma to associate to degree courses. Graduates may work in different areas, including procurement, packaging, warehousing, transportation, distribution, IT software and insurance, etc. A graduate may first join the industry as a logistics trainee, and then be promoted to logistics coordinator and up to head of logistics.

Commenting on the prospects of Hong Kong's logistics industry, he says China presents enormous competition because operating costs are generally lower there. Major mainland cities like Shenzhen, Shanghai, Nanjing and Zhuhai have all declared their intentions to build their own logistics parks sooner or later. Therefore, he says, "Hong Kong must fuse into China's logistics system in the long run. Students aspiring to study logistics should look for courses with China elements, in order to learn more about the market in China."

Well before the recent vogue for logistics studies, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) began offering the course "Executive Diploma in Transportation Logistics Management" in 1996, with a curriculum focusing on electronic logistics, global logistics supply system management, China logistics development and warehouse management, etc.

When the HKUST designs the curriculum, Dr. Raymond Cheung, Associate Professor at HKUST, says, it refers to logistics courses offered by famous universities like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In terms of lecturers' qualifications, HKUST professors and guest lecturers invited from overseas and China teach the courses. One of them is a former international shipping consultant to the White House.

It is the fourth year the university is offering this course. Over 100 students have graduated since 1996, most of them working in the management of well-known corporations such as DHL, Fedex, Jardine Logistics, etc. with about ten years of experience in the logistics industry.

Dr. Cheung says the university basically requires course applicants to have a university degree, but since logistics professionals usually adopt the "learning-by-doing" approach and are usually without a degree, the school may use working experience as an admission criterion as well. He estimates, about one-fifth of those who graduated had no university degrees originally. The course starts in early September each year and takes nine months to finish. It costs $45,000.

The "Continuing Education Certificate in Electronic Logistics" offered by the City University of Hong Kong's School of Continuing and Professional Education (SCOPE) also provides practical training.

Mr. Daniel K F Choi, Supervisory Executive Officer of SCOPE, says the school has collaborated with companies in Hong Kong and China to provide practical opportunities for students. Upon completion of more than ten hours of the practical module, students get a certificate jointly issued by the school and the relevant company. Practical elements included in the course give the students opportunities to understand every aspect of logistics operations through real-life working environment, Mr. Choi says.

This is the first year the school offers this course. Course content focuses on important logistics concepts such as procurement, warehouse management, goods distribution and delivery, after-sale services, etc. In line with the digitizing trend in the logistics industry, the course also includes e-commerce elements and touches on applications of electronic custom clearing, the development of electronic customer management and electronic procurement platform. Moreover, in view of the heightened trade between Hong Kong, China and Taiwan, the course also highlights the trends of trade development in China.

The course is designed for people already working in or interested in joining the logistics industry. It is a 120-hour course. Tuition fee is $10,500.

Taken from Career Times 2002/07/19