Enabling Continued Learning in a Time of Pandemic

By Tim Killen, Executive Vice President, deugro group and member of the Breakbulk Europe Programme Advisory Board

The sustained effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have posed many challenges to existing and new professionals focusing on the global logistics industry as their career of choice. With the last 2 years impacting both work and personal lives, finding time or capacity to focus on continuing professional development (CPD) has proven to be difficult for many in this industry. Whilst the long term global impacts of the pandemic have now matured in many parts of the industry, some businesses continue to face uncertainty in regard to what the ‘new normal’ will mean in the long term, so budgets and spending on non-essential expenses; including personnel training and development remain at lower levels than prior to the pandemic.

Organisations continue to focus on maintaining financial liquidity as they navigate the aftermath of global lockdowns, business disruptions and uncertain freight rates.

However, for new and existing logistics industry professionals, their desire and commitment to CPD remains relevant and highly important to their career choices. Now more than ever it is critical that this remains an important topic within this sector, so that it can be ensured we continue to promote the global logistics industry as a forward-thinking profession of choice, in order to retain and develop existing leaders on their professional journeys, as well as enticing new young professionals and graduates for the future.

Stages of the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) cycle is best demonstrated in the chart below.

Stages of the CPD cycle

• Identify: Understand where you are and where you want to be.
• Plan: Set SMART developmental goals, with clear outcomes and milestone to track progress.
• Act: Act on your plan and seek out learning experiences.
• Reflect: Enhance your day-to-day learning by routinely reflecting on the experience.
• Apply: Create opportunities to apply your theoretical knowledge into practice.
• Share: Share your learning with peers to generate greater insight and benefit.
• Impact: Measure the overall impact of your learning.

It is good to see young and agile Supply Chain and Logistics organisations maturing over the last few years. With highly skilled and competent professionals working to provide the industry with the tools, people and online systems can now support CPD with a modern and consistent approach.

One example of this was the use of newly developed eLearning tools, which have been invaluable to provide comprehensive, online remote learning courses aimed enabling professionals to continue their professional development. These tools include a suite of digital courses providing upskilling and training in key logistics topics such as Incoterms® 2020, Letter of Credit and Bill of Lading. All these eLearning provide not only theoretical learning content to upskill in key logistics disciplines but also real industry case studies and operational scenarios to bring them to life in a practical manner.

Online e-Learning modules have successfully enabled working professionals, undergraduate and post graduate students all around the world to be able to work and study remotely. So that despite the various disruptions due to the pandemic they can continue their professional learning journey. Educational institutions globally have had to work hard to adapt their curriculum and teaching tools to include large amounts of remote learning, so the application of e-learnings supported in providing a quick, plug and play solution to meet the online demand for professionals on every continent.

The growth of online webinars and e-Learnings have really gained traction over the last 2 years as educational institutes and professional development bodies globally supported their use due to the key benefits and ease of use. This has been reflected in courses such as those created by 4D Supply Chain Consulting Ltd. receiving recognition and accreditation from both Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT) and Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC).

The next 12 months will be critically important for the global logistics industry, as it focuses on returning to a new normality. With the sustained high demand for existing and future professionals in the industry, continuing their professional development means that investment and commitment in new digital tools and training content will remain a priority for the industry as a whole. This will need to be achieved by partnerships being created and developed between training & technology providers, universities and industry leading companies. Working together to extend the reach of the e-learning and face to face trainings to support the continued competence development and upskilling of logistics professionals so that we can provide diverse and exciting CPD tools to our young industry leaders to deliver a diverse sustainable future for the global logistics industry.