New Special Course: Building Port Resilience Against Pandemics

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This is an asynchronous/self-paced moderated online course that is delivered over a period of two weeks, and followed by two simulation exercises and a webinar (see agenda below for more details). Port experts will engage with participants online in the forum discussions for each of the course sections. The estimated time needed to complete the course activities is about 20 hours.

The online moderated course is structured in four sections, giving a precise and ordered view of the different aspects to be taken into account by a port or port organisation in a pandemic situation. It considers both a general vision and specific actions, the psychological and emotional part related to workers, the technological tools, and also considers actions related to ensuring the main activity of a port in the management of the flow of goods:

SECTION 1 Crisis protocol and communication strategy
SECTION 2 Staff management, well-being and resilience
SECTION 3 Technology preparedness
SECTION 4 Cargo flow continuity

Webinar video 27 July 2021

https://tft.unctad.org/port-management/building-port-resilience/bpr-webinar-video-27-july-2021/

Pictures shared by participants during the course

	There are 854 participants registered (36% women) from 99 countries
	Over 1200 posts in the fora 261 policy recommendations shared, 1000+ votes
	Golden Book The course was very useful and interesting. I learnt a lot about how to develop mitigation plan related to pandemic disruption in broader view. The materials based on examples in several ports are fit to be implemented in most ports. We could share our views and have other participants opinions and suggestions easily. The learning method is interesting also, especially the simulation exercises. This course helped me to appreciate the idea of establishing a Crisis Response Team in our office.
	Report https://tft.unctad.org/documents/report-on-the-trainfortrade-special-course-building-port-resilience-against-pandemics-bpr/

Dates	28 June – 30 July 2021
Activities	2 weeks asynchronous moderated online course 2 self-paced simulations exercises (30-45 minutes) 1 webinar (90 minutes)
Number of hours	20 hours
Language	English [1]
Course platform	https://learn.unctad.org/
Completion criteria	Average score from the 2 quizzes (on Sections 1-4) of at least 50%
Certificate	Yes – Electronic certificate
Price	Free of charge [2]

[1] Please note that the course will be delivered in French and Spanish in the fall 2021 (dates to be confirmed). Follow @TrainForTrade on social media to stay up to date with our activities!

[2] This course is financially supported by the United Nations Development Account and Irish Aid.

This special course is addressed to all actors involved in international trade, especially those involved with port operations. The course primary and secondary target population are representatives from the following organisations:

Primary target:

Port authorities (those include middle and senior managers)
Private port management companies
Port community operators (those include freight forwards, hauliers, customs agents, ship agents)
Port agents (those include pilots, harbour masters)
Line ministries staff: Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Commerce

Secondary target:

Trade facilitation committees
Port safety and security officers
Trade unions
Stevedores
Local authorities

The objective of UNCTAD TrainForTrade’s Building Port Resilience Against Pandemics (BPR) special course is to support the implementation of measures and to prepare for and alleviate contingencies related to a pandemic in a port, port terminals, and other seaport actors.

More specifically, at the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Describe and prepare crisis protocols
Prepare communication strategies and implement effective digital communication tools
Appreciate the potential impacts of pandemics on staff well-being and address any mental and emotional distress-related issues
Identify appropriate technology solutions for alternative work arrangements
Assess disruption scenarios for cargoes and passengers
Identify legal and financial risks
Define appropriate mitigation measures

This is an asynchronous/self-paced moderated online course that is delivered over a period of two weeks, and followed by two simulation exercises and a webinar (see agenda for more details). Port experts will engage with participants online in the forum discussions for each of the course sections. The estimated time needed to complete the course activities is about 20 hours.

Online course

SECTION 1 Crisis protocol and communication strategy

SECTION 2 Staff management, well-being and resilience

SECTION 3 Technology preparedness

SECTION 4 Cargo flow continuity

Simulation exercises/Gamification

During the third week, participants will complete simulation exercises to consolidate the knowledge they acquired during the course. The main purpose of these exercises is for participants to test their decision-making skills in a role play situation as a decision maker in a pandemic context. The estimated time to complete the exercises is about 30-45 minutes. The results are only indicative and will not count in their final grade for the course.

Webinar (27 July)

At the end of the course delivery, participants will be invited to a 90-minute webinar to be held on 27 July 2021 (exact time to be confirmed). The objective of this activity is to discuss issues, present best practices, and brainstorm on policy recommendations.

WEEK	DESCRIPTION	ACTIVITIES
Week 1 28-2 July	Introduction	Watch the introduction video
	Section 1. Crisis Protocol and Communication Strategy	Read Section 1 of the manual Watch the Section 1 interactive video Engage in Section 1 forum discussions
	Section 2. Staff Management, Well-being, and Resilience	Read Section 2 of the manual Watch the Section 2 interactive video Engage in Section 2 forum discussions
	Evaluation	Run the Quiz Week 1 (on Sections 1 and 2) Complete the Week 1 anonymous opinion questionnaire (on Sections 1 and 2) Optional: Complete the assignment “Implemented measures in your organisation”
Week 2 5-9 July	Section 3. Technology Preparedness	Read Section 3 of the manual Watch the Section 3 interactive video Engage in Section 3 forum discussions
	Section 4. Cargo Flow Continuity	Read Section 4 of the manual Watch the Section 4 interactive video Engage in Section 4 forum discussions
	Evaluation	Run the Quiz Week 2 (on Sections 3 and 4) Complete the Week 2 anonymous opinion questionnaire (on Sections 3 and 4)
Week 3 12-16 July	Self-paced simulation exercises	Complete the two simulation exercises
Week 3 12-16 July	Conclusion	Watch the conclusion video Complete the final anonymous opinion questionnaire (on the course) Complete the Golden Book
Week 4 19-23 July	Break
Week 5 26-30 July	Webinar (27 July)	Participate in the webinar

eDACUM : Design of the Course Curriculum

The purpose of the phase from the TrainForTrade methodology called Design a Curriculum (DACUM), is to brainstorm on the subject of the new course being designed, i.e. “Port resilience against pandemics”. The goals are to define the objectives and content of job aids to be developed, write training objectives, define target population, and describe what the trainees would be able to do as a result of the training. Furthermore, the DACUM proposes how to design tests for each objective and how to finally sequence the objectives and group them into modules to form a curriculum. The DACUM process for this special course was held virtually for the first time and during three 75-minute sessions via Microsoft Teams and with the use of Padlet platforms.

BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

In the current times of the global pandemic, various United Nations entities combined their efforts to propose a joint project that will implement standards, guidelines, metrics, tools and methodologies to immediately help governments, including Customs and other border agencies, port authorities, and the business community worldwide, to keep transport networks and borders operational to facilitate the flow of goods and services, while containing the further spread of the COVID-19 virus. One of its components focuses on port resilience against invisible threats and on keeping ports safe and operational during pandemics.

TrainForTrade’s project includes the exchange of best practices and new safety standards and the design and delivery of a training package to build essential skills for port community managers to help protect people and secure vital trade in ports (TFT Special Course “Building Port Resilience Against Pandemics”).