Building a reservoir of education, talent and skills for the professional logistics industry

MELI has

been instrumental in attracting and professionalizing young Saudi talent for the modern-day workplace

Providing national and international qualifications and professional certifications for Saudi youth and industry professionals is the objective of the Dammam-based MIddle East Logistics High Institute. It prides in training and preparing them for the workforce and making them both work- and future-ready, priming them to take on major responsibilities with skill sets and professional competencies.

The Middle East Logistics Institute (MELI: a subsidary of Al-Majoduie Holding Company), established in Saudi Arabia and now in its thirteenth year of operations, seeks to become the leading, cutting-edge academic institution to build globally competitive logistics capacities to the business community in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Through developing and improving both the awareness and logistics skills of young professionals, practitioners, managers and executives, and providing them with specialized training in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and obtaining levels of professional certifications in the field of logistics, MELI envisions becoming the go-to academic institution to develop and hone professional skills.

MELI acquires knowledge, expertise and modern methodologies through partnerships with some of the world’s best logistics educational providers, to offer the participants a variety of educational and training programmes that suit their training needs.

By adapting the “learning by doing” methodology as one of the basic approaches applied in the programmes, MELI assures that graduates will be equipped with strong tools enabling them to contribute to the success of their organizations.

Global Supply Chain conducted an exclusive interview with Amer Badarneh,

General Manager, Middle East Logistics High Institute (MELI), to get the insights and low-down on the antecedents, progress, the purpose and mission of this unique academic and training institution.

Global Supply Chain (GSC): Middle East Logistics High Institute (MELI) was established in Dammam, Saudi Arabia in 2010. What are your mandate and objectives for setting up the institution? Amer Badarneh (AB): In 2010 when we took the decision to establish MELI, there was virtually no talk about formal and officially approved Logistics & Supply Chain education and training in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. So, we came up with the idea mainly to develop a new logistics and supply chain human resources work-ready for the Saudi market.

In the early days we focused mainly on the need to develop the national skills and talents to be harnessed by the industry. From day one, we worked to have international partners on board as it was a big challenge and commitment for us to offer high-quality supply chain training without international base and accreditation.

Presently, we have plenty of highly regarded and desirable educational partners such as the elite CILT (Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK), IRU (International Road Transport Union, Geneva), Michigan State University and CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement &

Supply) among other top-notch institutions. Furthermore, we are approved and accredited by the Saudi National Training Regulation Body (Technical & Vocational Training Corporation–TVTC) as a High Institute.

GSC: What is the scope and range of activities of your mission?

AB: We focus on two major areas— providing national and international qualifications and professional certifications and consultations mainly related to customized and tailor-made programmes, where we have had remarkable success stories in this field through developing a totally new certifications which fit to client business requirements.

Also, we specialize in Truck drivers’ training and assessments especially those who transport dangerous and combustible goods. To date we have trained and reskilled more than 5000 truck drivers and our certifications are sought after prized by companies and other industry stakeholders.

GSC: Is MELI a private or public institute? Where is your funding coming from?

AB: MELI is a private institute, a subsidiary of the well-known Al-Majdouie Holding Company, an industry pioneer in the Kingdom and one of the nation’s biggest logistics services providers.

We are self-funded and get our revenues from the training fees we collect from our students, trainees and corporate clients.

MIDDLE EAST LOGISTICS HIGH INSTITUTE, DAMMAM, SAUDI ARABIA

GSC: How has MELI performed to date? What are your highlights and accomplishments?

AB: With a potentially promising and vast new supply chain training market in the region, I believe we have done exceedingly well and have accomplished multiple milestones as follows:

MELI trained and assessed more than 5000 truck drivers for ARAMCO. The training is ongoing. GASCO is another success story where we trained, reskilled and assessed more than 600 tank drivers, for major projects.

We launched the first professional two-year National Logistics Management Diploma. Last year in 2022, we have certified over 1000 young Saudis at different levels for the CILT international qualifications in logistics and supply chain. We also launched the first Arabic version of international qualifications. We have also managed to train and provide international qualifications for young Saudis.

We have just certified the first 10 young Saudis as Supply Chain Analysts for BAE Aerospace and the Saudi Maintenance and Supply Chain Management Company (SMSCMC) in an eight-month customized professional programme which was developed by our team and accredited by CILT.

We have trained and managed the Scientific Committee of one of the biggest supply chain conferences held under the auspices of the Ministry of Transport for the last four editions. We also launched the first Virtual Reality Warehousing Training in different scenarios and simulations.

GSC: What are your expansion plans? Do you propose to set up more campuses / branches in other cities in the Kingdom?

AB: After Covid-19, the concept and perception of training had changed, so physical expansion is no more a major element to increase the size and scope of a training organization, as most of qualifications can be acquired either online or hybrid, so today, I don’t for example need to have a facility in Jeddah to deliver training. Currently, many businesses seek to have training inhouse or in their facilities if not online.

In short, it is better today to invest in digital training, and interactive courses rather than invest in buildings or physical premises.

GSC: How many students do you currently have enrolled? How many students have graduated since inception?

BA: Our enrollee numbers are as follows. In the year 2022 the number is 2,127. The number for 2021 is 2,111. The cumulative number for the period 2010-2020 is 16,357. These numbers include those coming for short-term courses, long-term qualifications and the two-year Diploma.

GSC: Tell us more about your National and International Study Programmes?

BA: According to the regulations and our current national level of accreditation we are offering the two- year Logistics Diploma mainly targeting young Saudi and the sixmonth Development Programme to equip students with the basics of supply chain and logistics. Add to this, almost all short courses are accredited as national courses.

Through our international network and partners, we offer multiple certifications in different fields and functions, namely procurement, logistics, supply chain, warehousing and freight among others.

Currently we offer 62 International Certifications; 147 Short Courses; two National Certifications; one two-year Diploma and one Advanced Diploma. Our courses are available in seven Levels and four languages.

GSC: What is the wider objective for MELI for the long term in the light of Saudi Vision 2030?

AB: MELI aspires to become the centre of academia and knowledge for logistics, procurement and supply chain professional qualifications in the GCC. We offer new high-tech based and AI-centric, interactive courses without instructors.

GSC: How significant is the logistics and supply chain industry in Saudi Arabia?

AB: The logistics and supply chain industry is the bedrock of development and considered one of the major sectors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is basic to the growth of the nation and is the engine to the growth of the Kingdom’s economy. It is the future.

GSC: What is the appetite among Saudi nationals for careers in the logistics and supply chain sector? What is your role in the Saudization of the industry?

AB: Logistics and Supply Chain is becoming an attractive proposition for young Saudi nationals wanting to make a mark in business. For example, five years ago there were very few colleges and universities offering Supply Chain programmes, now we have more than 12 academic organizations offering Diploma, Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees.

A few years ago, it was rare to have young Saudis in the logistics field, now all national and international logistics companies’ operations have majority Saudi-employees in all levels of management. In humility I can claim that MELI is instrumental and playing its rightful role in promoting Saudization in the workplace as far as this sector is concerned.

GSC: Tell us briefly about your partners and the relationship between them and MELI?

AB: We have several partners, starting from the well-known worldwide partners such as CILT, Michigan State University, CIPS, The IRU Academy (the Geneva-based International Road Transport Union) and The Institute of Supply Chain Management–IoSCM.

Our courses are also recognized by the Association of Supply Chain Management ASCM / MUHAKAT Institute, Morgan International a major partner with us.

GSC: How important is technology and corresponding training for both the industry and MELI?

AB: Training and technology go handin-hand. We are always innovating and providing tools and platforms to deliver training in a better way. There is no doubt the latest technologies use AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality). The future will focus on interactive courses without instructors for some types of trainings.