logistics - catalyst for
PAGE 8
EDUCATION SPECTRUM 2015
THE HINDU, SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2015
LOGISTICS - CATALYST FOR G LO
Economic growth
ISTICS
n the last 20 years, the logistics sector in India has never enjoyed the kind of attention and demand like it does today. Recording a rise in the volume of freight traffic movement in the recent past, logistics has contributed to the highest GDP growth in the country. Be it in the automobile industry, food production industry or multinational companies, logistics play a vital role in the economic growth of any country, points out P Thomas Ponraj, Principal of St. Britto’s College, the only institute to offer Graduate and Post Graduate degree in Logistics Management. “Logistics is not just about transportation – it is just one of the services of the logistics industry. Container-freight station (CFS), Inland Container Department (ICD) and third-party logistics (3PL/TPL) are some of the other significant services of the industry,” he says. According to Thomas, the demand for increased standard in export qualities, growth of international business and e-commerce, and introduction of the Make In India scheme, among other factors have in turn increased the need for skilled professionals across the globe. Hence, in order to meet the
I P Thomas Ponraj, Principal of St. Britto’s College explains the growing scope of logistics as a career option and its contribution to the growth of an economy By Shiba Kurian
evolving trends and multi-faceted areas of the industry, St Britto’s provides their students with career-oriented courses than mere academic courses. St Britto’s is supported by one of the pioneers in logistics, Indev Logistics Pvt Ltd, which is spread across India, including Tamil Nadu, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kerala and Vishakapatnam. Being in the industry for over 32 years, its Chairman, S Xavier Britto drafted the entire syllabus of shipping and logistics according to needs and demands of the industry, for the Under Graduate as well as Post Graduate courses, approved by the Bharathiar University. What sets the academy apart from its counterparts is the special internships the students
VIMALA BRITTO, Secretary & Correspondent, St. Britto’s College
receive during their course. “At the end of every semester, we send our students to our various supply chain-oriented companies for training, giving equal attention practical aspects as well as theoretical ones. They receive training in every field such as air cargo management and freight forwarding. This ensures that the students are industry-ready,” explains Thomas. And at the end of the course, students are sent for on-the-job training for three months, following which they are equipped to enter any institution. Ensuring state-of-the-art teaching method, experts from the industry are invited to train the students, to keep them abreast with the current trends and requirements of the industry. The Chairman, who was the only In-
S XAVIER BRITTO,
Chairman, St. Britto’s Group of Institutions and Indev Group of Companies (Logistics Services)
dian speaker to talk about logistics at the Hannover Messe, the world’s biggest industrial fair in Germany, presided by the Indian Prime Minister, maintains a good rapport with the key players of the industry. “Hence companies are only keen on training our students and offering them placement options,” he adds. The institution also organises awareness programmes for aspiring students. “We organise conferences and invite students, to explain about logistics and its importance. Our next national conference will see some important dignitaries and personalities from the field, to give students a real understanding of the proceedings of the logistics industry,” he says.
EDUCATION SPECTRUM 2015
THE HINDU, SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2015
LOGISTICS - CATALYST FOR G LO
Economic growth
ISTICS
n the last 20 years, the logistics sector in India has never enjoyed the kind of attention and demand like it does today. Recording a rise in the volume of freight traffic movement in the recent past, logistics has contributed to the highest GDP growth in the country. Be it in the automobile industry, food production industry or multinational companies, logistics play a vital role in the economic growth of any country, points out P Thomas Ponraj, Principal of St. Britto’s College, the only institute to offer Graduate and Post Graduate degree in Logistics Management. “Logistics is not just about transportation – it is just one of the services of the logistics industry. Container-freight station (CFS), Inland Container Department (ICD) and third-party logistics (3PL/TPL) are some of the other significant services of the industry,” he says. According to Thomas, the demand for increased standard in export qualities, growth of international business and e-commerce, and introduction of the Make In India scheme, among other factors have in turn increased the need for skilled professionals across the globe. Hence, in order to meet the
I P Thomas Ponraj, Principal of St. Britto’s College explains the growing scope of logistics as a career option and its contribution to the growth of an economy By Shiba Kurian
evolving trends and multi-faceted areas of the industry, St Britto’s provides their students with career-oriented courses than mere academic courses. St Britto’s is supported by one of the pioneers in logistics, Indev Logistics Pvt Ltd, which is spread across India, including Tamil Nadu, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kerala and Vishakapatnam. Being in the industry for over 32 years, its Chairman, S Xavier Britto drafted the entire syllabus of shipping and logistics according to needs and demands of the industry, for the Under Graduate as well as Post Graduate courses, approved by the Bharathiar University. What sets the academy apart from its counterparts is the special internships the students
VIMALA BRITTO, Secretary & Correspondent, St. Britto’s College
receive during their course. “At the end of every semester, we send our students to our various supply chain-oriented companies for training, giving equal attention practical aspects as well as theoretical ones. They receive training in every field such as air cargo management and freight forwarding. This ensures that the students are industry-ready,” explains Thomas. And at the end of the course, students are sent for on-the-job training for three months, following which they are equipped to enter any institution. Ensuring state-of-the-art teaching method, experts from the industry are invited to train the students, to keep them abreast with the current trends and requirements of the industry. The Chairman, who was the only In-
S XAVIER BRITTO,
Chairman, St. Britto’s Group of Institutions and Indev Group of Companies (Logistics Services)
dian speaker to talk about logistics at the Hannover Messe, the world’s biggest industrial fair in Germany, presided by the Indian Prime Minister, maintains a good rapport with the key players of the industry. “Hence companies are only keen on training our students and offering them placement options,” he adds. The institution also organises awareness programmes for aspiring students. “We organise conferences and invite students, to explain about logistics and its importance. Our next national conference will see some important dignitaries and personalities from the field, to give students a real understanding of the proceedings of the logistics industry,” he says.
