Fifteen managers from Indonesia Port Corporation (IPC) have successfully defended their final dissertations for the TrainForTrade Modern Port Management Programme, and have been awarded the UNCTAD Modern Port Management Certificate.
The dissertations were presented and defended on 20-21 March before a panel of experts that included representatives from UNCTAD, the Dublin Port Company, and Pelabuhan Indonesia (the Indonesia Port Corporation), including IPC companies I, II, III, and IV. The dissertation panel was accompanied by evaluators from the programme's major donor, Irish Aid.
The graduates are middle-ranking managers of IPC.
UNCTAD's Port Training Programme supports port communities in developing countries in their efforts to provide efficient and competitive port management services in order to increase trade flows and foster economic development. UNCTAD research has shown that greater efficiency can be achieved if middle managers are trained in modern port management methods. The programme operates through four language-based networks (English, French, Portuguese and Spanish) in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
The Port Training Programme in Indonesia has now completed its second cycle of training. Each cycle spans two years and consists of 240 hours of classroom training, a series of examinations, port visits, case studies, and a final dissertation.
Writing the dissertation provides participants with the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired. They are required to identify a specific problem or challenge for the port community (related, for example, to management, organization, the environment, or security), to analyse it in the context of the organization's activities, and to come up with realistic proposals for improvement. During the dissertation preparation process, they are assisted by a senior manager who acts as a mentor. Participants who successfully complete all the phases of the programme are awarded the UNCTAD Modern Port Management Certificate.
During the opening ceremony, Cipto Pramono, Human Resources and General Affairs Director of Indonesia Port Corporation II, described how IPC had fully incorporated the programme into its human resources strategy, and said that many participants in the UNCTAD Port Training Programme had subsequently been promoted by IPC.
Mr. Cipto also summarized the dissertation process and what it meant for Indonesia Port Corporation, saying: "The objective of providing the dissertation, for port managers, is to construct a detailed and practical plan that they can then put into practice in their respective ports. The UNCTAD Port Training Programme has brought a great opportunity for us to have better knowledge of change, in order to develop the leadership level and become more effective, innovative, creative and responsive when implementing transformation within Indonesia Port Corporation I, II, III, and IV."
Two graduates spoke of their experiences, saying that the programme had had positive results for their careers and for the ports where they worked.
Banu Astrini, who received the "Best Participant" award from IPC, said that the programme had helped strengthen the network that exists between the different participating Indonesian ports. "The fact that the Modern Port Management Programme involves participants from all four port companies helped to strengthen the network and build camaraderie. It was a bittersweet moment when the programme concluded."
Harry N. Haedi, another of the graduates, said that he planned to "apply what we have learned during this programme in order to improve my performance and that of my port." He cited the words of a Chinese proverb: I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand.
The English-speaking network of the Port Training Programme is supported by Irish Aid, the Dublin Port Company, and the Port of Cork, and by Belfast Harbour Commissioners.
