MSc in Logistics & Supply Chain Management: Not what you think

Short lead times, space constraints, fast changing customer demand patterns, unpredictable business environment, constraints in distribution, transport and warehousing, aggressive product requirements, fast paced technological advancements, sustainability issues forcing organizations to re-vamp their internal processes, ERP systems implementation woes etc; sounds familiar? Well let’s face reality! These are some of the issues that cause fire-fighting and send control mechanisms spiralling down the abyss of chaos from which there is no possible return. Many organisations have faced these but have failed to take proactive action letting time handle the rectification of such issues, and thinking, quite erroneously that a new day will bring forth better tidings automatically. Therefore, with organisations facing ever-increasing competition coupled with the need to reduce waste and improve the overall service offered to customers from initial design to final delivery, the need for highly skilled Logistics and Supply Chain managers has never been more paramount. Furthermore effective Logistics &Supply Chain Management aims to provide solutions to organizations struggling to perform in a fast changing business environment by making them “process aligned” and integrating hitherto existed self-contained functions across the upstream – downstream continuum. Thus, visibility across the processes are maintained which help operations to make timely and proactive decisions to counteract constraints, unpredictable variations in activities impinging adversely on internal operations.

NEXT Campus a premier private education provider and organisers of the Colombo Supply Chain Forum, the only Supply Chain Conference held annually in Sri Lanka have partnered with Birmingham City University has introduced an academic qualification aimed at helping middle and senior managers involved in streamlining their operations understand how formal and effective supply chain management can resolve most of these issues. The MSc in Logistics &Supply Chain Management formalises this learning process by helping students understand the theories governing effective supply chains and also how these theories can be put into practice. 

Students who opt to follow this program will benefit from the following:

•     Essential knowledge and understanding of management principles.  
•     Generic management competencies including financial acumen, human capital development, emotional intelligence, knowledge management, information management and research methods in addition to the more specialised topic areas relevant to specialist area of study.
•     An opportunity to acquire skills in response to the market need for competent Logistics and Supply Chain practitioners capable of operating across multi national organisations embracing differing cultural dimensions.
•     A knowledge and full understanding of the breadth of capability in the latest software tools for facilitating multi-site logistics operations communications.
•    An opportunity to demonstrate their skills as one of a new generation of Logistics and Supply Chain practitioners, with a wider, more creative, flexible skill set, including a good understanding of internal and external customer requirements.
•     The skills and knowledge of new, emerging technologies, processes and production methods, and how to apply them across differing industry sectors.
•     Logistics and Supply Chain practice and interpersonal skills necessary to liaise and work in operational teams, structuring their work and meeting the varying demands placed on them; as they would in the work place. 
•     A program with an emphasis on active and participative education, including practical learning, problem based learning and group work which will develop their skills of analysis, synthesis, decision making and the ability to cope with new and unfamiliar problems.
•     An opportunity to relate practical real life problem based learning to industry and commerce, then to apply new technologies and techniques to solve present and future problems, in an international arena.
•     Skills to interpret the effect on managing projects of constantly increasing legislative controls globally, with particular respect to safety, legislation and environmental issues including reverse logistics and green supply chains.
•     An ability to handle uncertainty and ambiguity and deal with complex Logistics and Supply Chain practice issues.

The curriculum consists of eight taught modules and a research project. The eight taught modules are:

• Procurement & Operations Management
• Logistics & Distribution Systems
• International Logistics & Supply Chain Management
• Enterprise Systems Management
• Business & Information Strategy
• Developing Financial Capabilities
• Developing Human Capabilities
•  Research Methods & professional Development

In developing this program, Birmingham City University has consulted and aligned it to the FEHQ Master’s degree characteristics (September 2009) and the QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (August 2008) at level 7. In addition, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, and Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply curriculum standards have been applied where appropriate. For further information please contact NEXT Campus on 5119999 or [email protected]