European Ship Brokers and Agents choose Barcelona for its annual seminar

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The European Association of Ship Brokers and Agents (ECASBA) has chosen the city of Barcelona to celebrate its annual seminar this year.

In this way, the entity shows its support to the newly created Spanish Association of Consignment Agents (ASECOB), which already brings together a number of companies that carry out the activities of shipping agents and maritime agencies at a national level as well as the associations of consignees of the different ports of Spain.

A representative from the new association of Spanish consignee agents explained that this seminar is held annually in a community country, in alternation with Brussels.

This year it will take place on June 4 and 5 in Barcelona.

The first day will be held at the headquarters of the Escola Europea-Intermodal Transport. The first topic of the seminar’s agenda is the presentation of the SAILNET Programme, an exchange programme designed and powered by FONASBA in collaboration with the Escola Europea. The project aims to establish a network between education and training institutes in the maritime sector dealing with ports, shipping lines and logistics operators in order to strengthen skills across the seas. The project aims to reach its objectives using a study-internship alternation approach and better align them with the needs of the Blue Economy.

On Tuesday, June 5, the seminar will be held at the International Logistics Exhibition (SIL) in Barcelona. You can consult the full programme here.

“With a very high participation rate, the registration of professionals from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Holland, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden and Spain, as well as the International Association (FONASBA) has already been confirmed”, added the representative from ASECOB.

The conference will include round tables on current issues, with a special focus on digital transformation. The presentations will be given by outstanding representatives of the Spanish and community administration, industry associations and leading companies in the sector.

Source: Diario del Puerto

The Escola Europea to promote intermodal and sustainable transport

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The Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport will once again participate in the International Logistics Salon of Barcelona – the annual logistics fair in Spain.

Sharing a stand with one of its main shareholders –the Port of Barcelona­, the Escola will present its training offer for the second semester of 2018 and promote some of its projects; highlighting the growing influence and success of TransLogMED and Forma’t al Port.

In the summer months the Escola will hold the second edition of its technical training for professionals, focussed on Groupage operations and Consolidation Centres (18-20 of June). This course will be followed by an edition of Escola’s SURCO Operations I, focusing on rail- maritime intermodality, which will take place in Barcelona between the 2nd and 4th of July. In mid-July it will be the time of the Escola’s first ever Summer School on Port Operations (9-13 of July), a course designed for all kinds of profiles, professional, academic or vocational.

In autumn three editions of the Escola’s unique Motorways of the Sea Training (MOST) course will take place. The first of these, MOST Italy, will take place in September and will focus on the intermodal routes with short sea shipping maritime links in Italy. The second course MOST Iberia will take a closer look at the intermodal transport situation across the Iberian peninsula.

The Escola has been complementing its intermodal training package with the local Forma’t al Port project, whose goal is to bring young student closer to the professional ambience of the port communities. For the past three years the Escola has worked with Catalan training centres on professional work experience programmes. The courses have been hugely successful and will now be extended to Italian centres through a sister project Formati al Porto.

The other project to be promoted at SIL is TransLogMED. Through the promotion of international cooperation in transport transactions and by providing training in intermodal transport that knows no borders, the project aims to enhance the competencies and capabilities of transport and logistics operators from the Northern and Southern shores of the Mediterranean basin.

To find out more, come meet us at SIL at the stand D448 – E557. Alternatively you can write to info@escolaeuropea.eu.

The Escola Europea signs collaboration agreement with Spediporto-Genoa

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On the 13th of May 2018 the director of the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport Eduard Rodés travelled to Genoa to sign an agreement of collaboration with the president Dott. Alessandro Pitto of Spediporto-Genoa. The meeting took place alongside the association’s annual general assembly which followed the theme “Meeting our goals: connect, perform, excel”.

The agreement was signed in the framework of the Escola’s new Formati al Porto project. It specifies the incorporation of its proven intermodal training modules in the courses offered by Spediporto over a period of three years.

The educational focus of the Escola is based on research: students attend lectures and practical workshops and work on a case study in groups, which encourages collaborative work and group cohesion as a means to optimize the development of logistics chains.

Founded by 13 entrepreneurs, the Spediporto Association of couriers and carriers of Genoa has established itself as a reality of excellence able to provide qualified and highly professional services. It focuses its activities on the telematic development for the computerization of operational processes; the internationalization of associated members; providing training for the staff of associated companies; and fostering the partnership with the Port of Genoa and other local actors in the transport sector.

For more information on the Escola you can write to info@escolaeuropea.eu. For more information about Spediporto – Genoa, you can visit the association’s website: http://www.spediporto-genova.com/

The Escola Europea inaugurates its Classroom of the Stars

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On Thursday the 5th of April the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport held the inauguration ceremony for its new Classroom of the Stars (Aula dels Estels) in Barcelona.

The Escola has, since its founding, strived to offer formative excellence based on original and innovative formats through unique and practical courses. The inauguration of the new classroom has cemented the centre’s strategy and emphasized that the institution will continue this line of innovation and excellence. The partners of the Escola were clear that “training is a tool for advancement and progress”, as stressed by its president Sixte Cambra, of the Port of Barcelona. The Aula dels Estels will give the Escola an additional tool to continue its mission of providing excellent training to students and professionals alike.

The ceremony of the new classroom, located in the maritime terminal of Drassanes of the Port of Barcelona, with fantastic views of the area, was complemented by an interesting conference in which professional experts in conflict resolution, team cohesion, leadership and neuroeducation shared their knowledge with the attendees.

 

The educational focus of the Escola is based on research: students attend lectures and practical workshops and work on a case study in groups, which encourages collaborative work and group cohesion as a means to optimise the development of logistics chains.

The Escola Europea gains 175 alumni following three courses for University and professional students

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This March and April the Escola Europea has opened its doors to students from universities and professional training centres in France and Spain.

On the 24th of March, 76 students of logistics and supply chain from the Promotrans centres in Lille and Toulouse (in France) arrived in Barcelona to embark on the MOST (Motorways of the Sea Training) Management course.

On the 14th of April 42 students of logistics and maritime business from Tecnocampus Mataró (affiliated with the University Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona) also began the 4-day long MOST Management course, which takes place in Barcelona, on board of a Grimaldi Lines Ro-Pax vessel on the crossing between Barcelona and Civitavecchia, and in Civitavecchia.

The aim of the MOST course is to offer complete and concise training in intermodal maritime logistics, short sea shipping services and the motorways of the sea. The courses are aimed at both professionals and students of logistics, transport and international commerce. In both cases, the students began the theoretical training in intermodal transport and logistics in Barcelona, and then boarded the Ro-Pax vessel Cruise Roma to continue the training along the short sea shipping route between the two Mediterranean cities.

The Port of Barcelona, the Ports of Rome and Grimaldi Lines collaborated with the Escola in the organisation of these courses. The teaching staff comprised professionals from the European transport sector as well as academic experts.

This week, the recently inaugurated classroom of the Escola Aula dels Estels was filled with 57 students of transport management, logistics and international commerce coming from the EAE Business School of Barcelona. The students took part in the Escola’s MOST Intermodality course.

Unlike the other two courses, this training did not include a trip on board of the ferry. Nevertheless it also offered a balanced rotation between theoretical lectures and practical workshops. The contents of the theoretical classes focused on intermodal logistics and the motorways of the sea; the port of Barcelona as a principal node for intermodal transfers; innovation in the transport sector; the management of port terminals and the Border Inspection Point and the presentation of an intermodal transport real case. The practical visits helped the students visualise the concepts explained during the lectures as they are applied in real life. Aside from the maritime visit of the port during which the different terminals of the Port of Barcelona were pointed out, the group could visit some of the terminals and witness their operations from the perspectives of their employees. The terminals that were visited were: Grimaldi Lines (including a workshop of a ro-pax vessel’s hold), Autoterminal, APM Terminal, the Border Inspection Point (PIF – according to its Spanish acronym), and LOGISTAINER, a logistics warehouse.

“I liked it a lot. It was very interesting to see in practice all the aspects of the operations described in the theoretical classes.”

“Without a doubt I would recommend this course to anyone interested in the subject! For my part I have learned and I have had a good time. I will certainly remember this experience”

With these comments, a student of EAE Business School and another of Tecnocampus confirmed the high level of satisfaction felt by the students at the end of the training.

The educational focus of the Escola is based on research: students attend lectures and practical workshops and work on a case study in groups, which encourages collaborative work and group cohesion as a means to optimize the development of logistics chains.

The port of Civitavecchia to host the new Italian headquarters of the Escola Europea

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The port of Civitavecchia, headquarters of the Port Authority of Centre-North Tyrrhenian Sea in Italy, will now also be the host of the Italian headquarters of the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport.

The decision was approved at the Steering Committee meeting of the European training centre that took place on the 12th of April at the facilities of the Italian port.

Representatives of the Escola’s partners attended the meeting, which included: Francesco Maria di Majo, president of the host port; Sixte Cambra, president of the Port of Barcelona and of the Escola Europea; Paolo Emilio Signorini, counterpart of the Port Authority of the Western Liguria Sea (ports of Genoa); Guido Grimaldi, Commercial Director of the Grimaldi Group; and Antonio Pedevilla, Director of Operations of GNV. During the gathering the Escola’s activities carried out in 2017 were approved, and the projects in which the Escola is involved in a formative as well as in a communication capacity were explained. Likewise, the planned initiatives and courses for 2018 were summarised.

The president of the Escola Europea, Sixte Cambra, opened the meeting by sharing the magnificent results of the past year. 36 courses were carried out that counted with the participation of 1,300 participants, representing an increase of 50% in the number of courses and 47% in the number of participants compared to 2016. Thirty-eight technical workshops were held on port terminals (with 1,430 participants), showing a further 25% increase over the previous year. In total, the Escola’s team carried out 74 training activities, with 2,730 students from 46 countries and with the participation of 35 training centres. 75% of the students came from Europe, 20% from America and 5% from Africa.

56% of the activities were conducted in languages other than Spanish, and for the first time one of the courses took place beyond European borders, in Morocco.

More data: 54% of the participants were professionals or students of current university degrees and post-graduates and / or linked to companies in the transport sector.

Finally, the quality of the courses was rated more than satisfactory: an average of 4.39 out of 5 was rated by the course participants, demonstrating excellence in training and experience. This certifies that the teachers, the organization and the means made available to the students were more than adequate to meet the expectations of the students.

During the meeting, the Escola team presented the TransLogMED project, labelled by the Union for the Mediterranean and approved by the European Commission and the countries that make up this organization. The project aims to promote regional integration across the Mediterranean by favouring and facilitating the development of the Motorways of the Sea and the creation of jobs in the transport and logistics sector, offering specialized and quality professional training. TransLogMED plans to organize more than 30 activities, including courses and seminars, with an approximate scope of one thousand professionals from the sector coming from Italy, Spain, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt and Jordan.

Forma’t al Port fills the Escola’s classrooms in the first quarter of 2018

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Three hundred and sixty students of higher education courses from thirteen Catalan institutes have filled the classrooms of the Escola Europea during the seven Introduction courses of the Forma’t al Port project organized so far this year.

The participating institutes were: The UAB Foundation (Fundación UAB), the Centre for Polytechnic Studies; Sant Francesc, Prat and López Vicuña Centres for Studies; La Salle Gràcia, Les Salines, Jaume Mimó, Poblenou, Lluïsa Cura, Estela Ibèrica and  Joan Brossa Institutes as well as the Escola del Treball from Lleida.

The main objective of the two-day-long Introduction course is to supply upper cycle first-year students of International Trade and Transport and Logistics with a first-hand experience of the Port of Barcelona, its infrastructures, logistical equipment and port operations. In addition, the companies of port community have the opportunity to promote their activities and the professional profiles they seek for their work force. Finally, the course creates a space for dialogue to encourage exchanges between training centres and companies, and thus promote the hiring of students in programmes of dual training.

Introduction characterises the first level of the Forma’t al Port programme and is considered preparatory for the more complex three-day-long Management course, during which participants receive training on board of one of the vessels that covers the regular short sea shipping route between Barcelona (Spain) and Genoa (Italy).

The Forma’t al Port project was launched in 2014 in Barcelona by the Port of Barcelona, Barcelona-Catalunya Logistics Centre, the Barcelona Provincial Council (la Diputació de Barcelona) and the Escola Europea. The first triennium of activities took place between 2015-2017 and had a great drawing power, giving very positive results. This paved the way for a new triennium 2018-2020, which welcomes back the centres already loyal to the programme alongside the addition of new institutes.

For more information, you can visit the website of the project: https://www.escolaeuropea.eu/training/our-courses/#format.

The Escola’s first Summer School on Port Operations to take place in Barcelona

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Between the 9th and the 13th of July 2018 the Escola Europea will run the first ever edition of the Summer School focusing on Port Operations. This unique and novel programme will bring the course participants close to the activities carried out in the Port of Barcelona, by offering a thorough analysis of the operations involved and including a practical study of companies, their employees and their facilities.

Alongside practical workshops to different sites across the Catalan enclave, including visits to the Pilot Control Tower, the Border Inspection Post, Tugs facilities, etc, the participants will discover the theories behind the port community and port operations from the perspectives of terminals, cargo and agents; learn about services offered to visiting vessels; discover port security protocols; understand risk management of  dangerous goods and emergencies; find out about infrastructure and the functionalities of the Border Inspection Post; consider the environmental aspects of management of the port area and start to consider qualities of a future port.

The Summer School will be open for anyone to attend, but it will especially benefit students of port management, nautical and maritime transport, transport management and logistics; early or mid-career ship and port agents wishing to develop their knowledge; shipping company personnel wishing to understand the work of the agent; and port terminal personnel wishing to understand how port operations and services work.

The teaching staff will comprise experts in intermodal maritime logistics active within the local community, professionals from the Port of Barcelona, and representatives from the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport. It will be a week not to be missed!

For more information you can consult the course page: https://www.escolaeuropea.eu/courses/port-operations/

Escola Europea promotes Formati al Porto in Italy

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On the 26th of March 2018 the director of the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport, Eduard Rodés travelled to the Lazio region of Italy to meet Mr Marco Ciarlantini, the head of the director’s secretariat of the regional directorate for training, research and innovation (Scuola Università, Diritto allo Studio – Regione Lazio). The meeting was also attended by Giovanni Marinucci (ADSP Mar Tirreno Centro Settentrionale) and Andrea Campagna, consultant at the Research Centre for Transport and Logistics – CTL  and Università degli Studi di Roma ‘La Sapienza’. During the talks possibilities of future collaborations as well as of governmental co-financing were discussed.

The Formati Al Porto project will have a triennial structure and will be aimed at university students (Transport and Territory Engineering, Circular Economy, Tourism) as well as higher technical institutes (area 2: Sustainable Mobility) students. For more details about the Italian education system, please visit https://www.ceebd.co.uk/study-in-italy/).

The main aim of the initiative is to have the students get in touch with the port community and activities and learn directly from the sources the characteristics of the professions linked to the port businesses. They will have a first-hand experience of infrastructures, facilities and operations. Moreover, the project will improve the alignment between the qualifications requested by the companies and the competences offered by the education system.

The Escola Europea has already acquired some expertise with this kind of programmes. The Forma’t Al port project was launched in 2014 in Barcelona. The initiative was a success and after the first triennium the agreements with sponsors and partners were renewed in early 2018 for three more years with more educating centres willing to participate.

The Formati Al Porto pilot course is scheduled for the end of 2018.