13^th Transportation Working Group Meeting

Mexico City, April 20-24, 1998
Agenda Item 4 - TPT/13/PLEN/4/SC/HRD
Plenary Session

held on 22 April 1998

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Human resource development issues have been given a high priority in APEC. At their 1996 meeting in Subic Bay, Leaders designated development of human capital as one of six priority themes in ECOTECH. Human resource development was also one of the six priority areas for future action nominated by Transportation Ministers in their June 1997 Joint Ministerial Statement (JMS).

Malaysia, as APEC Chair for 1998, has said that its focus will be on the theme of capacity building, with special emphasis on human resource development and harnessing technologies for the future.

Participating economies took full account of these priorities at the first meeting of the TPT-WG Steering Committee on Human Resources Development at the 13^th TPT-WG meeting in Mexico City on 22 April 1998.

Participating economies

The meeting was chaired by Australia as Coordinator, and was also attended by Canada, China, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and the United States.

Projects completed since last TPT-WG meeting

No projects which come under the HRD Steering Committee have been completed since the 12^th TPT-WG meeting.

Project evaluations completed since last TPT-WG meeting

Progress reports were provided to the March 1998 meeting of the Budget and Administrative Committee on the following projects:-

Seafarer STCW Training in the Philippines (Australia) TPT 03/97T

Seafarers Training project Phase II (Indonesia) TPT 03/98

Database of Transportation Technology Research (Japan) TPT 04/97

HRD Steering Committee strategies

The HRD Steering Committee discussed an issues paper prepared by Australia (TPT/13/SC/HRD/3.1), and agreed to adopt the following strategies to fulfil its Terms of Reference:

1. undertake a stocktake of current projects/activities in order to determine their present status;
   
2. agree on the best means by which current projects can be progressed to achieve an outcome in order to rationalise current workload;
   
3. develop a coherent and strategic approach for identifying and undertaking any new work;
   
4. make a commitment to undertaking effective intersessional work and adopt strategies to achieve it - these would include communication by e-mail, fax and phone;
   
5. actively contribute to TPT-WG and broader APEC human resource development objectives and to the work being undertaken by the other TPT-WG Steering Committees;
   
6. liaise with the HRD Working Group and other working groups to identify areas of complementarity or duplication;
   
7. promote industry involvement in TPT-WG meetings and projects, and develop relationships with APEC Study Centres, educational institutions, and the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council.

II. ONGOING PROJECTS - NEXT STEPS

Seafarers Training Project (Indonesia)

Indonesia initiated a project at the 7^th TPT-WG meeting in Beijing in April 1995 to identify the demand for and supply of seafarers in each APEC economy and to formulate strategies to increase the quality and quantity of APEC seafarers.

The project consists of three phases:- Phase I to conduct a survey on the demand and supply of seafarers in APEC member economies - the 11^th TPT-WG meeting endorsed the recommendations of Phase I; Phase II to study existing maritime training institutions and equipment through a survey - funding of US$60,000 for Phase II was approved in 1997. Phase III may result in the implementation of programs identified in Phase II.

Since the 12^th TPT-WG meeting Indonesia has developed a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a consultant to carry out a study to determine the standard of existing maritime institutions in APEC member economies and the extent to which these have met the requirements of the Standard of Training Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers Convention 1995.

A steering committee for selection of a consultant has been formed, comprising Australia, Indonesia, China, Singapore and Chinese Taipei. The steering committee met on 21 April to review the draft RFP, and agreed that a further draft be circulated. The further draft would include changes to the timing as set out below, and further consideration of the wording of the benefits and the terms of reference. The steering committee considered that the timetable set in the draft for selection of a consultant and completion of the consultant's final report was not achievable. It was agreed to amend the timings in the RFP. Under the amended timings the preferred tenderer would be selected by the steering committee at TPT-WG14. The steering committee would consider the consultant's interim report at TPT-WG15, and a final report would be submitted by the consultant in time for the final report on Phase II to be made to the TPT-WG at its 16^th meeting (September/October 1999).

The steering committee made the amended timings on the understanding that although funds had been allocated for expenditure in 1998, BAC provisions allow for carryover of unspent funds from the year of allocation to the subsequent year.

The steering committee discussed the most appropriate method of seeking tenderers to undertake the consultancy. One option is through open tender, where interested economies each take responsibility for publicly advertising the RFP within their economies. Another option is through restricted tender, where interested member economies each nominate suitable candidates capable of responding to the RFP.

The steering committee decided that in view of the specialised nature and requisite knowledge of the task, the restricted tender option is preferable and agreed that it would liaise with the APEC Secretariat to arrange for interested economies to put forward a maximum of three tenderers to undertake the work.

The HRD Steering Committee endorsed these proposals as contained in TPT/13/SC/HRD/4.1a.

Virtual Centre for Transportation Research, Development and Education (Indonesia)

The concept of establishing a transportation research, development and education centre was one of the six initiatives from the first APEC Transportation Ministers' meeting in Washington in June 1995. Indonesia agreed to lead the initiative.

At the 11th TPT-WG meeting in Seattle, April 1997, it was agreed to first identify the current status of transport research and education institutions within the member economies. A questionnaire was designed for this purpose and Indonesia, as one of the steering committee members, was appointed to distribute and collect the questionnaire through contact persons available in each member economy.

Indonesia has completed the analysis of responses to the questionnaire (TPT/13/SC/HRD/4.2) and produced a Catalogue of Institutions (TPT/13/SC/HRD/4.2b).

An initial investigation of the feasibility for establishing a Virtual Centre was also undertaken by Indonesia (TPT/13/SC/HRD/4.2a). This study, incorporating the results from the questionnaire, has now been completed. It recommended the Virtual Centre be made available in a website form and suggested the Centre be developed in two stages:

• the establishment of the Centre (one year period) - consists of initial survey and analysis; installation; creation and development of intranet-based information system; training; operation and maintenance;
  
• the extension stage (after one year) - consists of the development of the information and communication systems.

The report also suggested the following strategy for establishing the Virtual Centre:

• a core team be established, consisting of representatives from a number of economies, to oversee the development of the Centre;
  
• carry out a needs assessment for the inter-networking potential among research and education institutions in transportation within the APEC economies; and
  
• develop strategies for promoting the use of internet within the Transportation Working Group of APEC economies, as internet technology is not available for every economy.

The HRD Steering Committee agreed with Indonesia's view that the most feasible and practical way to proceed is to establish the Centre as a website on the World Wide Web, linked to the APEC Secretariat Homepage. However the Steering Committee recognised that there remain some implementation issues with respect to how decentralised the site should be (in particular whether it needs to be centrally managed or hyperlinked to other relevant websites such as training and research institutions). There are also issues relating to the ongoing management of the site.

It was agreed that the website would initially be self-funded by participating economies, and that development of the Centre as a website would be evolutionary in nature as usage develops and linkages with other sites are identified. Australia agreed to assist Indonesia in establishing the website.

It will be necessary to promote the use of the internet among TPT-WG member economies to provide the widest possible access to the Centre.

The Steering Committee noted that these are issues also being faced by the other TPT-WG Steering Committees.

APEC Database of Transportation Technology Research (Japan)

At the 9^th TPT-WG meeting, April 1996, it was agreed that Japan would distribute the updated database in floppy disk format twice a year and publish the hard copy of the database every two years. At the 11^th TPT-WG meeting, April 1997, it was agreed that Japan would publish hard copies of the database in 1998. The budget request for the publication (US$6,000) was approved by BAC in July 1997. In July 1997 the database was made accessible on the APEC homepage. At the 12^th TPT-WG meeting, September 1997, it was agreed that Japan should continue to publish the hard copies of the database even after the database was made accessible on the homepage.

The budget request for the publication (US$6,000) was approved by BAC, July 1997. Japan is now in the process of preparing for the next publication in 1998 as agreed at the 11^th TPT-WG meeting.

After consulting with the APEC Secretariat, Japan proposes the following draft schedule for publication and updating. If every economy agrees to this schedule, Japan will begin the preparation work accordingly.

Draft schedule for the publication of the database

The HRD Steering Committee agreed to review the need for further hard copy publication at its meeting at the 15^th TPT-WG.

The Steering Committee also agreed that as the Virtual Centre for Transportation Research, Development and Education is established in website form, consideration will be given to incorporating the database as part of the Centre.

Technical Transportation Exchange Program (USA)

One of the six initiatives from the first APEC Transportation Ministers' meeting in Washington in June 1995 was to investigate the value of establishing a technical transportation exchange program.

The US circulated a survey/questionnaire to all member economies requesting information on existing exchange programs, their funding, areas of expertise, and areas of interest. At the 12^th TPT-WG meeting in Taipei in October 1997 the US advised that surveys had been received from Australia; Hong Kong, China; Japan; New Zealand; Singapore and Chinese Taipei (Canada had responded shortly after TPT-WG 12). Other economies were asked to respond to the survey in order that a determination can be made on the interests and the resources available for the project. The deadline for submission was set as 1 January 1998.

The United States recommended (TPT/13/SC/HRD/4.4) that due to a lack of interest as expressed by the responses to the survey the project be terminated or suspended. APEC members were apparently satisfied with existing bilateral exchange arrangements and at this time saw little value in establishing an APEC-wide program. The United States recommended that the TPT-WG examine other options to enhance HRD in the transport sector. One option is the establishment of technology transfer centres in APEC (consideration may be given to incorporating this option as part of the Virtual Centre for Transportation Research, Development and Education), and the United States plans to submit a paper on this option at TPT-WG 14.

The Steering Committee endorsed the approach proposed by the United States.

STCW seafarer training (Australia)

This training project is being carried out in the Philippines by Australia-Maritime Training which is a network of Australia's foremost authorities on maritime training and industry operations.

The project will give an assessment of the state of preparedness and action required to be taken by Filipino maritime trainers to meet recent amendments to the International Maritime Convention on Standards for Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW). The amendments to the International Convention governing STCW entered into force in February 1997 and compliance by signatory States is required by August 1998.

The initial phase of the project was completed in the last week of July 1997 and a report was sent to officials at the Maritime Industry Authority of the Philippines (MARINA) on 6 September 1997 recommending two 5-day 'train the trainer' workshops, with a one day open forum in between. Unfortunately, the workshops were deferred for a number of reasons, such as, work commitments by the consultants and consideration by MARINA of alternative training programs.

On 24 March 1998 MARINA provided an alternative suitable program of training which is consistent with the original proposal. Until this recent advice Australia had been concerned that the project would not meet the planned timetable. The project is due to be completed by December 1998.

The steering committee noted this progress report and advice that a funding proposal for a second stage of training would not now be required as funding had been obtained by Australia from other sources.

III. APPROVAL OF NEW PROJECTS

Women's participation in the transportation sector (Canada)

Canada presented a paper on the participation of women in the transportation sector to the 12^th TPT-WG meeting. The paper proposed that a small group consisting of interested economies work together to develop the terms of reference for a gender specific project which, in identifying training and development initiatives, would have as a first objective, an examination of the impediments women may face in the transportation sector.

The project team met on 21 April and discussed the proposal for a compendium/synopsis of success stories. There was general support for the proposal however Canada will prepare a further paper clarifying the term 'success stories' and circulate it with a draft questionnaire for comment by all economies. The questionnaire would be subject to final review during TPT-WG14.

Canada submitted a revised project proposal (TPT/13/SC/HRD/5.1a), co-sponsored by Australia and the United States, which was endorsed by the Steering Committee as a self-funded project. It was also agreed that the project would be drawn to the attention of the First Ministerial on Women to be held in Manila 15/16 October 1998, which will include HRD as one of its four key areas of discussion.

IV. OUTSTANDING ISSUES

The Steering Committee identified the issue of coordination of TPT-WG websites as a matter for Plenary discussion, to allow finalisation of its approach on the Virtual Centre for Transportation Research, Development and Education.

V.  MANAGEMENT ISSUES

There is a need for development of an effective relationship between the HRD and other Steering Committees on HRD aspects of projects which come under those Steering Committees.

VI. FUTURE AREAS OF WORK

In addition to reviewing existing projects, the Steering Committee discussed possible future areas of work. Aside from the projects which already come under the HRD Steering Committee, the following aspects of the June 1997 JMS present potential areas of work:-

(we) "direct the TPT-WG to give consideration, across its activities, to measures that would promote transparency in regulations, resolve differences in conformity assessment and facilitate the mobility of transportation personnel by encouraging mutual recognition of professional qualifications." (para 17);

(we) "believe that improving and strengthening transportation education and training through a comprehensive approach is key to the successful development of human resources in the transportation sector." (para 23);

(we) "ask that the Working Group monitor closely emerging skill needs in the transportation sector, particularly in the developing APEC economies, and consider appropriate responses." (para 23);

(we) "underline our commitment to women and youth by directing the Transportation Working Group to identify training and development initiatives to ensure that these groups are well prepared for career opportunities in the transportation sector …" (para 24).

The Steering Committee agreed to address as priority areas the training and service delivery aspects of electronic commerce and intermodal transport, to support TPT-WG initiatives in those areas. Opportunities for women and youth could be a particular subject of consideration in these areas.

The Steering Committee also noted that part of the developing proposal on Early Voluntary Sectoral Liberalisation in the automotive sector is an ECOTECH component including HRD items. This is an example of other types of activity which the Steering Committee may need to address.

The Steering Committee suggests that HRD in transport be the basis of a seminar at a future TPT-WG meeting, possibly TPT-WG15.

Australia as coordinating economy will prepare a first draft of a work program designed to address areas of work identified by Ministers and other human resource development needs. All member economies will be consulted, and major linkages with other TPT-WG projects and other working groups will be identified. The work program will be submitted to the Plenary for approval at the 14^th TPT-WG meeting.

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