In five years, enrolment in logistics hbo courses has dropped by more than 50 per cent. Former college lecturer Hessel Visser is very worried and therefore sounded the alarm on LinkedIn. With his post, he unleashed a broad discussion among dozens of logisticians about causes and solutions. According to him, what needs to be done concretely now? "We need to showcase logistics as a high-tech and strategic field. With artificial intelligence, sustainability and global trade as core themes."
Hessel Visser knows what he is talking about. As a logistics lecturer, he was associated with the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences and other educational institutions for many years. The book 'Working with logistics', which he wrote together with two colleagues, has become the standard work in his field. Since 2020, he has seen enrolment in logistics colleges decline at an increasingly rapid pace, while the business community is struggling with a structural shortage of logistics talent.
"This is not just a problem for companies, but a strategic risk for the Netherlands," Visser warns. "Supply chains partly determine a country's competitiveness. Think of the global disruptions caused by the corona pandemic or the geopolitical tensions around raw materials and energy. Without enough logistics professionals, we lose grip on transport, inventory management and supply chain management. This leads to higher costs, longer delivery times and less flexibility, with direct consequences for consumers and the economy."
Fragmentation
According to Visser, the fact that previous attempts to get the problem on the agenda had little success is mainly due to the fragmentation of logistics courses. "In the beginning, we had three universities of applied sciences with strong logistics courses: the Transport Academy in Venlo, the Traffic Academy in Tilburg and the Port and Logistics programme in Rotterdam. Now there are nine colleges with often small courses without sufficient critical mass. Everyone recognises the problem, but because there is no central control, no one can really make a fist.
On LinkedIn, not everyone shares Visser's concerns. Some point to the increasing inflow into the field from other courses such as data science and business administration, and to the trend that companies sometimes value generic skills such as problem-solving ability and collaboration skills more highly than professional knowledge. Visser does not think the latter is justified. "Someone entering from another study programme will have to be brushed up on logistics first," he says.
Image problem
A few key insights follow from the discussion on LinkedIn. First of all, the field of logistics has a big image problem. Many young people are more likely to choose studies such as data science, artificial intelligence (AI) or sustainability, while it is precisely in logistics that huge innovations are taking place in robotisation, AI-driven decision-making and circular supply chains. "The image people have of logistics is outdated," argues Visser. "We need to get rid of the association with pushing boxes and diesel trucks. Logistics is high-tech, strategic and socially relevant."
What should be done? Visser advocates a large-scale promotional campaign, similar to the efforts made to make engineering and IT more attractive. "But then not campaigns that show who delivers the parcels to the door, but rather show the gigantic world behind it. The world where AI optimises the supply chain, where green logistics reducesCO2 emissions and where global trade is impossible without strong chains."
Gap with practice
Another problem is the great distance between universities of applied sciences and the business world. As a result, courses do not sufficiently connect with practice, according to dozens of reactions from logistics professionals on LinkedIn. "Some programmes had or have managers who do not even come from the logistics sector, let alone have had their feet in the mud," Visser states critically. "Teachers are overwhelmed with bureaucracy and have too little time to build strong relationships with companies."
LinkedIn recognises that companies also have a responsibility in this. Many logistics professionals admit that they could play a more active role in promoting the profession. "We need to invest more in traineeships, practical projects and cooperation with colleges and universities," Visser said. "Young people need to experience the impact of logistics early in their education. This requires companies to actively give guest lectures, involve students in innovative projects and offer more attractive traineeships."
Inspiring stories
Finally, the profession needs more role models and ambassadors. "We still see too few inspiring stories of successful logistics professionals who can enthuse young people," Visser explains. "Storytelling is crucial: show how a supply chain director solves a global crisis, how a start-up conquers markets with smart logistics or how technology radically changes logistics processes."
To this end, role models from diverse backgrounds and genders should be used. "Logistics must become more attractive to a broader group of students, including women and people with a migration background. If we make the sector more accessible, we will automatically get a larger intake," Visser argues, calling for swift action. "We cannot afford to wait another five years. If we do nothing now, we will miss a whole generation of logistics talent."
