Developing the next generation of business leaders, is key to the sustainable success of any company. DP World signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a strategic skills development programme, which will focus on leadership and business management with the renowned Erasmus University, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The joint initiative called “Evolve”, will develop aspiring business unit and regional heads across DP World’s global portfolio of 78 ports in 40 countries.
The partnership is with three subsidiaries of the Erasmus University Rotterdam: the Centre for Maritime Economics and Logistics (MEL), the Erasmus Centre for Urban, Port and Transport Economics (Erasmus UPT) and the Executive Education department of the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM). The MoU was signed in Dubai between DP World Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, and RSM Executive Education Dean, Prof. Frank Hartmann. The event was also attended by the Deputy Consul-General of The Netherlands in Dubai, Ester van Someren, MEL Academic Director and Erasmus UPT Director, Dr. Larissa van der Lugt, RSM Programme Director for Evolve, Malou Kroezen, DP World Senior Vice President of Human Capital, Maha Al Qattan and senior company officials.
DP World Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, said: “Our industry is advancing at unprecedented speeds and as our business strategy develops to include elements of the wider supply chain, the expertise of our people also needs to grow and ‘Evolve’. Our future leaders need to know how to integrate new technologies into our business model and be equipped with the right tools and confidence to think outside the box – to conceptualise innovative new ideas to help us lead the future of world trade.”
DP World Senior Vice President of Human Capital, Maha Al Qattan, said: “The Evolve programme is a perfect blend of the latest research and insight of industry specific topics combined with leadership and change development. MEL and Erasmus UPT bring a deep understanding of the complexity and dynamics of global supply chains and combining this with the top-level experience of RSM in executive leadership education creates a unique environment for the development of our future business leaders.”
Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) Executive Education Dean, Prof. Frank Hartmann, said: “DP World’s inspiring vision to remain at the leading edge of trade innovation perfectly matches RSM’s strategy on academic thought leadership in logistics management.”
Centre for Maritime Economics and Logistics (MEL) Academic Director and Erasmus Centre for Urban, Port and Transport Economics (Erasmus UPT) Director, Dr. Larissa van der Lugt, said: “MEL and Erasmus UPT have vast experience in educating tomorrow’s business leaders in the complex, highly interconnected and dynamic industry of maritime trade and transport, logistics and ports, in which DP World has a key position.”