PSA University awards Maritime and Logistics Management Student

8 May 2024 - Yesterday, PSA University handed out the 'PSAU Award 2024' to Esther Henderickx (25) from the University of Antwerp. Esther impressed the jury with her master's thesis titled 'What is the legal and economic impact of hydrogen as fuel on the shipping sector from a shipowner's perspective?'

Esther Henderickx expressed her surprise, saying, "I am naturally pleasantly surprised. Sustainability remains an urgent issue that we must continue to address. I am glad to have contributed to this with my master's thesis."

The PSA University (PSAU) has presented this award for the third time already. The aim of the award is to recognize outstanding master's theses within the Maritime and Logistics Management (MLM) program. The MLM program enhances students' knowledge in the fields of transportation and logistics, aligning with various bachelor's and master's programs in Flanders. The program emphasizes four essential aspects within the transportation sector: economics, legal frameworks, technology, and sustainability.

Wim Van Roy, PSAU manager, stated, "Similar to UA, PSA also aims to support students and highlight such projects. Therefore, our training department, PSA University, annually awards students who delve into contemporary business topics in the maritime sector and contribute to solutions for challenges our company faces. The aspect of sustainability, a pillar within the program, is evident in the master's thesis, which is an additional asset for us at PSA. Playing a leading role in climate action and promoting sustainable growth in the port and logistics sector is indeed a top priority."

Dr. Valentin Carlan, MLM Program Coordinator at UA, expressed the significance of the link with PSA, stating, "The connection with PSA is particularly interesting for us because it perfectly aligns with our vision to educate future managers. We not only want to explain theoretical concepts to our students but also demonstrate how these concepts are applied in the real world. Through the PSAU award, we aim to show that our students and topics are rooted in reality and that we contribute to solving challenges contemporary businesses face."

The event honoring the award included presentations from the winning student as well as UA alumni, including Rachel Fierens (Instructor Antwerp Maritime Academy), Nils Muyshondt (Regional Sales Support Chemicals GCC and Pakistan at Manuchar), and Jim Nauwelaerts (Supply Chain Consultant at Brixadvice). They shared how the MLM program has contributed to the beginning of their careers. The keynote speaker was Marie-Hélène Slegten (Product Owner at MPET), who shared her operational insights with the attendees