Academic programs connected to cargo and logistics have witnessed a significant boost this year, because of the rising stature of Dubai as a strategic logistics hub, driven by a slew of ongoing and proposed developments.

In 2013, University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) saw record enrolments for its Master of Science in Logistics (MSc Log) program that combines practical and theoretical aspects of logistics and supply chain management to assist managers in increasing business efficiency and advancing their professional skills.

The projects that have contributed to raising Dubai’s stock in the logistics world include the DWC Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai Logistics City and Dubai Logistics Corridor, among others.

“Nowhere in the world do we see such massive projects being undertaken concurrently, considerably boosting Dubai’s aspiration to be one of the biggest logistics hubs of the world,” said Professor Valerie Lindsay, Dean of Business and Management, UOWD. “This growing sector will need a large number of professionals with local expertise. At UOWD we were among the first academic institutions to foresee this need and launch a program designed to produce such professionals.”

The Master of Science in Logistics (MSc Log) program at UOWD is designed to develop an employee’s ability to analyse an organisation’s supply chain operations, its strengths, weaknesses, structure and performance and to undertake the design of supply chain systems. The program also teaches managers to apply quantitative techniques for logistics and transportation related decision-making and to understand the impact of information technologies on logistics and supply chain issues.

UOWD’s MSc in Logistics is recognised by the Supply Chain and Logistics Group (SCLG) in the Middle East. The program also won the SCATA (Supply Chain and Transport Award) in 2010 for the best supply chain and logistics academic program in the UAE. The University has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Maersk Logistics, a demonstration of its strong professional links.

The program is accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and is fully recognised within the UAE, GCC nations and internationally for further education and employment in the private and public sectors. It is also recognised by the Supply Chain and Logistics Group (SCLG) in the Middle East and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) in Australia.

In addition, the program is quality assured by UOW, which is registered with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), the national regulator of the higher education sector in Australia. UOWD graduates have the opportunity to exchange their UOWD degree for the equivalent UOW degree after completion.

The logistics-related developments in the UAE point to a focused approach to attain Dubai’s goal of becoming a mega logistics hub. The Dubai Logistics Corridor, one of the most ambitious projects, links Jebel Ali Port, the Jebel Ali Free Zone and Dubai World Central (DWC) to form a single custom-bonded Free Zone environment spanning an area of approximately 200 square kilometers. DWC has direct access to the UAE’s main trans-emirates highways, the future Etihad Rail network, Al Maktoum International Airport and Jebel Ali Port, providing unmatched speed, connectivity and flexibility.

Dubai Logistics City (DLC) is the world’s first truly integrated logistics platform with all transport modes, logistics and value added services, including light manufacturing and assembly, in a single customs-bonded and Free Zone environment. This allows companies to focus on the optimization of their supply chains, using DLC as a global supply chain hub for sea-air or air-air transport combinations.

Geographically, the UAE is situated between the Far East and Europe, making it the ideal candidate for a hub, sitting at the crossroads of international trade and commerce between the Eastern and Western worlds. The UAE is also considered to be the gateway to the world’s most progressive markets, including Africa, India, and China.