Research-Teaching Nexus to Logistics Competence and Skills: An Exploratory Study on Logistics sector from the perspective of Managers in Oman

Research-teaching nexus is critical in designing and developing appropriate competence and skills to educational programs. Its contribution to emerging and dynamic fields like logistics above all is enormous. The increase in volume of transaction, information and financial flows is immense in our globalized world such increase in transaction requires competent and skilled manpower in the field of logistics and transport management. It is important that the change in
logistical services must be continued with the changing business environment and thus, the professionals must be well trained through educational evelopment courses to gain knowledge and skills of the logistics operations. The purpose of this research is to explore quality and quantity of logistics specialists in the Sultanate of Oman and assess the role of research-teaching nexus in filling knowledge and skill gap. Survey (Interview) was conducted to managers of
selected large scale Omani companies. Experienced senior managers were purposively chosen to have valid and reliable data. Skill and knowledge deficits in the filled were explored and the role of research and teaching were recommended.Research should focus on educational needs and setting of curricula for teaching. Teaching should focus on competence and skill development and training of manpower to fit the company needs. Teaching should target on the educational level, the development of professionals, and equipping the logistical workforce with these skills that are important for the future. Partnership between companies and educational institutions
would assist to narrow the mismatch in skill and competence needed by companies and produced in colleges/universities.