The PortEconomics SummerCourse was completed with participants and instructors sharing their enthusiasm for the event. Updates on developments in the field and state-of-the art research, interesting discussions and networking dominated four productive days on the theme of “Advances in Port Management: Theory and Practice”.
Instructors included Thanos Pallis (University of the Aegean, Greece), Peter de Langen (University of Eindhoven/Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands), Theo Notteboom (ITMMA-University of Antwerp, Belgium), Mary Pierre Cariou (Euromed Management, France), Brooks (Dalhousie University, Canada), Jean-Paul Rodrigue (Hofstra University, USA), Adolf Ng (Hong-Kong Polytechnic University) and Thomas Vitsounis (University of the Aegean, Greece).
The first PortEconomics SummerCourse concluded with the wrap-up session by George Vaggelas (Advisor to the President and CEO of Port of Thessaloniki), Michalis Sarlis (Advisor to the Hellenic Champer of Shipping) and Patrick Verhoeven, (Secretary General, European Sea Ports Organisation – ESPO).
The PortEconomics team would like to thank all those that trusted our initiative and participated in the inaugural event. With evaluation reports being most promising, we promise to keep contact with the most promising young generation of academics and practitioners by developing further our activities.
The PortEconomics SummerCourse diary
Day 4: Production Factors (Capital, Labour, and Land) were the theme that dominated the final day of the PortEconomics SummerCourse, with Thanos Pallis and Theo Notteboom presenting an update of market developments. In the following session, participants were updated on Port Governance and Devolution by Mary Brooks. The first PortEconomics SummerCourse concluded with presentations by representatives of port authorities the users of the ports, and the European Sea Ports Organisation that concluded the SummerCourse. Participants enjoyed the farewell drink at the gardens of “Maria Tsakos Foundation” Centre for Maritime Research and Tradition. For most participants, this was also the welcome drink to the PortEconomics sponsored European Conference on Shipping, Intermodalism and Ports – ECONSHIP 2011.
Day 3: In the beginning of the executive course, Theo Notteboom and Jean-Paul Rodrigue presented to participants the latest “Developments in Shipping Markets as well as in Terminals and ITO Strategies”. The sessions were followed by an informative discussion on “Ports and Supply Chains” by Peter De Langen, and presentation on “Port Performance Measurement in Practice” by Pierre Cariou and Thomas Vitsounis. In the final session of the day, participants of the SummerCourse had the opportunity to receive an update of the latest developments in port of North America, Asia, and Europe by Mary Brooks, Adolf Ng and Thanos Pallis respectively. The day ended with participants joining the PortEconomics dinner at the picturesque village of Thimiana.
Day 2: Lively discussions during the “PhD Breakfast and Brunch Session” marked the second day of the PortEconomics SummerCourse. Drs Chen, Gang (University of Southern Denmark), Vaggelis Kounoupas (University of Piraeus), Spyros Niavis (University of Thessaly), Kourounioti, Ioanna (University of the Aegean) and the PortEconomics member Papachristou Aimilia (University of the Aegean) presented the progress of their PhD research and discussed in a lively discussion themes, methodologies, research and publication potentials with other participants. The afternoon session included a relaxing trip to the villages and beaches of the famous Mastichohoria of Chios island, in a networking and “battery recharging” excursion. Participants return to the class tomorrow in a unique gathering including instructors from North America, Asia and Europe: These are: Theo Notteboom, Jean-Paul Rodrigue, Pierre Cariou, Mary Brooks, Adolf Ng, Peter De Langen, Thomas Vitsounis and Thanos Pallis.
Day 1: The inaugural PortEconomics SummerCourse on “Advances in Port Management: Theory and Practice” commenced on Saturday 18 June in Chios, Greece . The first day concentrated on the latest developments in port research, with Peter de Langen, Thanos Pallis and Thomas Vitsounis discussing the prospects and challenges for port research, as well as they ways that one might take advantage of the PortSudies database. They were joined by George Vaggelas (Port of Thessaloniki) who discussed the expectations of Port Authorities from the academia.The event will continue its works at the Korai Library in Chios, Greece, on Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 June.