Interview with Dr. LI Haobin

Choosing to work in the maritime industry originated from a cultural connection to my place of birth–Nanjing, China, where the explorer Zheng He and his fleet built their ships and set sail. Zheng He's fleet, starting from my hometown and based in Nanyang, connected all the oceans he could explore at that time. Therefore, growing up listening to Zheng He's story, I have an innate yearning for the vastness and freedom of the sea.

I remember when I first came to Singapore to study, I was very excited to see the container trucks moving around the busy PSA container terminal. It's like seeing the seamen back then anxiously loading and unloading goods in the trade warehouse in order to prepare for the monsoon season. At that time, I would drag my friends and point to these containers and tell them that this is what I would do in the future. It was for this reason that at 17, I chose the undergraduate program of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering of National University of Singapore. Because I knew that this place had the knowledge I needed.

My first interaction with computer programming was in the second grade of primary school, and my first teacher was my father. His major was in radio engineering. After graduation, he taught students about computers, and could be said to be part of the pioneering batch of computer teachers in China. A father's advice to his son is usually the most pertinent. Thirty years ago, he said to me, "Mastering the computer as a tool will benefit you for life. However, don't choose computer as your major because that's something that only geniuses do. You have to choose an impactful industry and use your tool to change it. " I believe I'm practising my father's advice, and I hope to share the wisdom with everyone.

Zheng He has opened up the Maritime Silk Road for more than 600 years. In today's global supply chain, the maritime industry has become the artery of all mankind. Learning to use the latest digital technology, we can listen to the pulse of the world via the ocean. Designing, effectively managing and operating a special link in such a huge maritime system will be a great achievement for students who are determined to become engineers.

Master of Science (Maritime Technology and Management) [MTM] is indeed a new program that we launched in 2021. However, our preparation for this project actually started with the establishment of the Centre of Maritime Studies (CMS) in 2005. As we all know, Singapore is a country built on a major trading route, and the maritime industry is the foundation of the country. Therefore, the establishment of CMS has received a lot of attention and support from NUS, as well as the Singaporean government. We have gathered teachers and researchers from various colleges of NUS. Aside from CDE, colleagues from the Business School and School of Computing also joined us to study issues in the maritime industry that Singapore is concerned about. Our industry partners include ports, shipping companies, logistics companies, industry associations and government agencies. In addition, in 2018, with the support of Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI), the Department of Industry and Systems Engineering Management established the Centre of Excellence in Modelling and Simulation for Next Generation Ports (C4NGP), which deepened our understanding of the maritime industry, especially in the area of future port design and operation.

It can be said that the MTM program that we launched in 2021 is based on research results and various industry experiences of the past 16 years. Most of the program lecturers are also academic leaders in our research centre.

Last year, due to the impact of COVID-19, we failed to arrange visits to maritime enterprises and institutions. As an alternative, we invited our partners to share their industry knowledge with our students. For example, this semester, we invited our partners, PSA, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and CMA-CGM to come to NUS to share the latest developments in the maritime industry across different perspectives.

In addition, starting from January 2022, our first batch of students will begin their internships. Many of the companies involved in the internship program are also our research partners of many years. Considering Singapore's position in the global maritime industry, most of these companies play a significant role internationally. When we communicate with these companies, many of their HR managers have expressed their desire to use this internship program to find the talents needed by the company in the future. Therefore, through MTM, other than studying maritime technology and management knowledge, you may also meet future employers or business partners. If applicants are determined to enter the maritime industry, NUS’s MTM program should be your first consideration.

In fact, CMS, C4NGP as well as many MTM lecturers are already participating in the planning and research work of Singapore's Tuas Port. Therefore, whether if it’s now or in the future, we very much hope that outstanding MTM graduates can stay and contribute to the design and construction of the Tuas Port. The construction of the new port will last for a long time and will only complete in 2040. Therefore, the generation that chooses to engage in the current Singaporean maritime industry is very fortunate to witness the significant landmark in the Port of Singapore’s evolution. The knowledge that the MTM program imparts upon its students will be of great use.

Indeed, the maritime industry has a long history and many long-standing traditions. Nevertheless, far-sighted enterprises have long since seen the need for digital transformation as they know that if they do not catch up with the changing times, regardless of their experience, there is no stopping them from being eliminated in the fiercely competitive market. As fresh graduates in the workplace, we do not have to question the maritime enterprises’ determination to transform. However, compared with other industries, we need to be more psychologically prepared, be on guard against conceit and impetuosity, and humbly understand the ins and outs of the industry. The challenge of digital transformation cannot be simply attributed to the traditional shackles, but rather because the complexity of the whole system requires a comprehensive and thoughtful solution in order for the whole system to improve and run smoothly.

Of course, we encourage students to express their own views and provide different perspectives outside of the traditional way of thinking, as they can provide many innovative and valuable views. As MTM lecturers, we will listen carefully to the students' opinions and consider new ideas of value. We will also enlist the two research centres to follow up and explore those ideas and combine our accumulated experience in the maritime industry to form in-depth analysis reports, whitepapers, or research plans, which will be provided to the corresponding enterprises, research funding agencies and the government. We very much welcome MTM students and graduates to express their unique views on the maritime industry.

With several years of relevant work experience, we can expect the graduates of our master program to make great achievements in their careers. This could include taking on more roles related to supervision and management in the workplace and undertaking projects involving big data analysis or projects of other disciplines.