Bridging the gap between academia and the ‘real world’

Bridging the gap between
studying and working in
the logistics and transport
field is the thinking
behind the recent signing
of a Memorandum of
Understanding by Ciltsa and
the University of Pretoria.
The Chartered Institute
of Transport and Logistics:
South Africa (Ciltsa)
and the Department of
Business Management at
the University of Pretoria
(UP) have signed an MoU
aimed at closer co-operation
between the two institutions
for the benefit of the
transport sector. “Our
members have a wealth
of expertise across the
supply chain that enhances
the academic component
of learning, resulting in
students receiving an all
round education which
makes them employable at
the end of their studies,”
says Ciltsa national president
Barlow Manilal.
Students are often not
exposed to the working
environment of their chosen
career until after they
graduate from university,
says Manilal. “Thus, their
expectations of the work
environment and the reality
are worlds apart and they
are often not prepared for
the adjustment. One of the
initial projects is the launch
of a mentorship programme
that will see BCom option
supply chain management
students benefiting from
an exchange of information
from seasoned professionals
within logistics and
transport,” he said.