Post-grad courses equip managers for leadership roles

THE TECHNOLOGY and economic development of marine industries worldwide and the globalisation of the business of deep sea shipping in recent years has raised the level of intellectual skills needed to exploit South Africa’s potential as a maritime nation. This, says Henriette van Niekerk, head of the Unit for Maritime Studies at Stellenbosch University, is the reason for the introduction of specialised post-graduate degree courses. These offer opportunities to managers and prospective managers to acquire the necessary business economic skills for successful maritime careers. The courses were introduced in 1998. Graduates in multi-disciplines acquire skills which qualify them for leadership roles in the business of ports and shipping as well as the management of the country’s maritime interests. A number of degree courses are on offer, each dependent on the credits obtained from studying under basic, compulsory and selective modules. Basic modules provide an introduction to maritime economics and basic principles of economics. Both offer 10 credits. Compulsory modules include shipping economics and finance, and port economics, both offering 30 credits, and maritime policy, 20 credits. Seven selective modules offer 20 credits each. These are shipbroking and chartering, international maritime conventions and law, intermodal transport and logistics, maritime supply chain management, maritime commercial law, quantitative modelling for maritime business purposes and marine safety and environmental economics. Three selective modules offer 10 credits each. These are Maritime Information Technology and e-Business, Maritime Labour Domestic Legislation and Unionisation, and Economics of Maritime Power. Block courses are available on request by companies and organisations. These include maritime supply chain management, ports policy and regulation, ports administration and management, intermodal transport and logistics, marine safety and environmental economics, and shipping economics.