PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES (PDC)
Professional Development Courses 2006
Our
Professional Development Courses (PDCs) are a good example of MEL’s constant
efforts to bring the industry in the classroom. PDCs can take the form of short
cycles of seminars; intensive one- or two-day lectures; or events at which
students are invited to participate. To stimulate the interest of the students
and increase their industry knowledge, PDCs often involve Corporate Network
members. This year, MEL students have had the opportunity to interact with two
of MEL closest supporters: the Baltic & International Maritime Council (BIMCO)
and Royal Vopak.
For the fourth consecutive year, MEL students were given the opportunity to get
the latest insights in terminal developments, delivered by key industry
speakers, during the TOC conference held in Hamburg in June. MEL has been
supporting TOC by sending graduated students already from 2002. As in the past,
the proceedings of the conferences included summaries of all conference sessions
prepared by some of the most enthusiastic MEL students. This exclusive event
provided MEL students with the opportunity to meet and interact with leading
people in the shipping and terminal community.
As of 2005, Vopak and MEL have forged a strong educational partnership. In this
framework, MEL 2006 visited the company’s Rotterdam tank terminals and students
had the opportunity to discuss company strategies and test their ability in
solving the challenges the top management of Vopak presented them with the use
of case studies. Vopak’s contribution started with the keynote address of John
Paul Broeders, Chairman of the Executive Board, in October 2005 and his
presentation on the 19th of May 2006. Speakers at the Vopak Day
included Mr. Eric van Neerbos, Christiaan van Hielen and Geert-Jan Bruinsma.
Special thanks go out to Rolf Brouwer and Robert Werkman for their overall
coordination.
MEL 2006 also followed a PDC in Maritime Law, given in cooperation with the
prestigious Institute of Maritime Law of the University of Southampton. The
Institute is a leading one in teaching, research, and consultancy in maritime
law, international trade and marine insurance since its establishment in 1982.
The course consisted of three intensive days on Maritime Law and Marine
Insurance, Sales Goods, Charter Parties, Cargo Claims and Conventions and it was
given by Robert Grime, Professor of Maritime Law and current Director of the
Institute, Filippo Lorenzon and Andrew Serdy, Lecturers at the School of Law
The BIMCO
DAYS started with a presentation on International Organisations in Shipping by
Carsten Melchiors, BIMCO’s Secretary General on the 13th of January
2006. The Course held in the beginning of June, allowed students to understand
the characteristics of chartering, bills of lading and related practical issued
in the shipping industry. Students enjoyed an outstanding active interaction
with Peter Grube, Henning Nielsen and Jan Lafranca: the three BIMCO lecturers.
We all look forward to an equally successful repetition in 2007.
PDC 2006 Programme
