Eleven senior port managers from the ports of Mauritania successfully completed a Coaching workshop preparing them for future deliveries of the course on Modern Port Management in Mauritania, from 14 to 19 October 2016. With enhanced knowledge on methods and pedagogical tools of course delivery, graduates now look forward to acting as local instructors of the UNCTAD/TrainForTrade course in their home ports.
In September 2016 Mauritania became an active member of the French-speaking Port Management network.
Before this backdrop, two members of the TrainForTrade team travelled to the country for a needs analysis and visited the port of Nouakchott, also called "Port de l'Amitié" (PANPA), and the port of Nouadhibou (PAN).
On this occasion, they organized a coaching workshop on pedagogical methods related to the delivery of the TrainForTrade Modern Port Management Programme.
This training was delivered over four days and was aimed at senior staff members from both ports who could potentially become local instructors. The workshop brought together participants from the two ports of Mauritania, the Port of Nouakchott, and the Port of Nouadhibou (PAN).
The workshop was launched in the presence of Hassena Ould Ely, General Director of PANPA, and Ould Hademine Ould Jelvoune, General Director of PAN.
After the introductory session and delivery of the first modules, the participants had time to prepare for individual presentations over the weekend, which they made to their peers the following Monday morning.
The Coaching featured several practical exercises and role plays which were highly appreciated by the participants. Upon completion of each module, the potential trainers were either assessed on the basis of their presentations by their peers or per online test. They also completed a questionnaire to provide feedback on the quality of the Coaching and training materials used after each session. The overall satisfaction rate was 98.25%. The 11 certified port managers are now well prepared to act as instructors for sections of the course corresponding to their expertise.
In the closing session, discussions on lessons learned and exchanges on best practices took place. Participants noted the high quality of the modules and particularly appreciated the efforts the TrainForTrade team had made in bringing across pedagogical tools and delivery methods. They also said that this course had allowed them to gain a better understanding of the role of an instructor, which kindled their keen interest in expanding this knowledge even further in the future. Exchanges amongst themselves had been an enriching part of the workshop, they explained. Hassena Ould Ely, General Director of PANPA, thanked TrainForTrade/UNCTAD and stressed the importance of training and life-long learning. He also reiterated his commitment to increasing gender balance in the port and pledged that this would be reflected in the number of female training participants in future.
The start of the first local delivery of the TrainForTrade/UNCTAD course on Modern Port Management is envisaged for early 2017.
