About the Program

INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND LOGISTICS DOCTORAL PROGRAM

 

International Trade and Logistics Department's doctoral program aims to equip students with the ability to conduct independent research, examine scientific events in-depth and with a broader perspective, draw conclusions, and reach new inferences. In addition to these gains, international trade and logistics activities in companies have become an area of ​​expertise in itself. Familiarity with the structural principles, strategies, and techniques of the sector in the management of the relevant field of expertise; Managers equipped with analytical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities are needed. With this doctorate program, graduates will have a good command of international trade, logistics, and supply chain management, they will know the logistics industry very well, will be able to analyze the needs of the society, will pursue the goal of continuous improvement with a sense of social responsibility, will be able to plan at all stages of logistics activities and different units of logistics organizations and use resources efficiently. It is aimed to train professional international trade and logistics managers, who can use them, who are competent in logistics and management, who will be successful in both the public and private sectors, and who have an international vision. In addition to the purpose of training managers for the private sector, the program also aims to increase the studies on international trade and logistics in the academic field and to be a step in the training of scientists who will work in this field.

Developments in the international trade and logistics sector and the trend in this regard; show that the use of highly professionalized outsourcing will increase soon. Developments in this area point out that focusing only on production costs in organizations will no longer make a difference, instead, developments in logistics and supply chain will enable companies to differentiate themselves in the market, thus providing a competitive advantage. In this case, it is expected that the labour demand of the new generation suppliers, which requires operational skills and expertise, will make the international trade organizations and the logistics sector an employment field on their own. In today's business world, it is understood that international trade practices are now a competitive factor for organizations. However, it is seen that professionals are not sufficient in both international trade and logistics education, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises and public institutions. The inadequacy in this matter affects all processes in terms of enterprises, reducing their profitability and reducing efficiency, and also affects the speed and quality of the public service provided by public institutions. In this context, it is considered that graduates of the international trade and logistics doctorate program can make a significant contribution to meeting the increasing need for specialists and managers in both the public and private sectors.

In the context of what has been stated, since International Trade and Logistics doctoral graduates are knowledgeable in foreign trade, transportation, and logistics and have a foreign language, there will always be employees who will be in high demand in the market thanks to the experience and ability they have gained from their graduate education. Therefore, graduates will take on very important roles at every stage as managers who provide the necessary planning and coordination in the production, energy, or service sector. International Trade and Logistics doctorate graduates have employment opportunities in institutions that provide foreign trade and logistics services, receive logistics services, and organize logistics applications. In addition, graduates who have completed their doctoral education can find employment opportunities directly or with their doctoral education in the academic field needed in this regard. Because this program will fill an important gap in scientific research that is needed in Turkey. The graduates of the program can work in the foreign trade and logistics units of the enterprises in the private sector, as well as they can be employed as managers in maritime enterprises, private intermediary customs clearance institutions, air, land, and sea cargo enterprises, and ports. It is considered that those who have received a Ph.D. in International Trade and Logistics can predominantly work in the following institutions and organizations in managerial positions. Logistics units of production, service and sales companies, logistics companies (3rd party logistics service providers), freight forwarders, land, air, sea, rail, and intermodal transportation companies, insurance, finance, audit and foreign trade companies units, international trade, and logistics consultancy institutions and educational institutions, international trade and logistics departments of universities and research institutions, relevant units of the State Planning Organization, the Ministry of Transport and other state institutions and organizations, international trade and logistics application units in communication and information technology companies.

The number of graduates of the International Trade and Logistics department in Turkey is quite limited, and they are far from meeting the above-mentioned demand, the scope of which is expanding day by day. Most institutions in the public and private sectors need individuals who have received this training.

Considering the province of Antalya, the development trend that the city has achieved in the logistics sector, with a trend suitable for the established tourism sector, reveals the need to offer both national and global goods and services of high quality, effectiveness, and efficiency. Statistics presented by the Exporters Assembly show that food and mineral exports through Antalya have increased significantly in recent years. This also rapidly increases the need for human resources trained in foreign trade and logistics operations. Antalya, which is one of the most important touristic destinations in the world, also contains an important potential in terms of "human logistics" with the ideal of Health Tourism. On the other hand, the developments in recent years show that the city is on the way to becoming a "logistical base", considering the existing land, air, and sea transportation possibilities of Antalya and its international competencies such as Antalya Port. On the other hand, the city's being an established centre for many national and international scientific congresses and artistic events as well as international sports organizations, its experience in other international organizations such as EXPO, and having the necessary preliminary preparation are a great advantage in terms of both human logistics and goods mobility. It also includes logistics potential.

Besides the foreign trade and logistics infrastructure of Antalya province, its richness in terms of global businesses creates an advantage in terms of the international trade and logistics doctoral program to be opened. Antalya is home to many large-scale institutions and businesses that contribute to the national economy and each of them has logistics business units, some of which are as follows; Adopen, Agt, Ekiciler, Eti Electrometallurgy, Adalya Marble, Antalya Energy, Anteks, Bahar Poultry, Doctor Tarsa, Platin Chemistry, Yörükoğlu, Akser Greenhouse, Enelsa, Karsis, Sar-Pet, Sergün, Art-Mim, Bülbül Akü, Karsis, Swissgrow, Yuyuyen Tekstil, Antalya Port Authority, Tesco Kipa, Bauhaus, Metro, THY Cargo Service, Yurtiçi Cargo Service A.Ş.

Logistics companies operating in the public and private sectors in Antalya and the logistics departments of other businesses do not only serve the people of Antalya but also provide logistics services to the whole country. For these reasons, it can be said that Antalya's sectoral infrastructure is quite sufficient in terms of both application and post-graduate employment opportunities for Akdeniz University International Trade and Logistics doctoral program students.

The fact that Turkey is a logistics power and Antalya is in a logistics cluster structure, the need for professional management in organizations with international trade and logistics business units, the increasing importance of logistics enterprises and international goods and service mobility, and research on these issues will be trained with the doctoral program. It will be possible with the contribution of scientists.

 

Prof. Dr. Ramazan ERTURGUT

 

Head of International Trade and Logistics Department