students engaged with course material and with each other to mimic what happens in real time in a classroom,” notes Dr. Darren Prokop, professor of logistics at the University of Alaska Anchorage’s College of Business & Public Policy. “Virtual as well as physical field trips and online discussions with industry leaders are great ways for students to appreciate the diverse elements of supply chain management,” he adds. “One important element is learning how to turn data and information into actionable knowledge,” says Dr. Prokop. “This avalanche of electronic inputs needs well-trained, sometimes out-of-the-box thinking, to make sense of it.” CUSTOMIZATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFORM EDUCATION The need to make sense of the data avalanche is fueling programs to provide customized offerings and tailor courses to meet niche career paths. “The new reality calls for a completely customized offer, which integrates all available technological resources,” says Dr. Miguel Ángel García, director of the SCM masters program at the Zaragoza Logistics Center, a research institute affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Zaragoza. “Students demand educational experiences tailor-made to their individual needs and abilities,” he says. “Personalization stems from this demand to improve academic performance and the potential job success of students. “Technology is transforming the way we teach and learn,” he adds. “Technological tools, such as online learning, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and gamification, allow educators to meet the goal of customized learning. “In addition, technology contributes to the development of essential skills today, such as collaboration and problem solving in complex environments, essential for the labor market,” he says. “Customization and technology are therefore the winning strategies.” BEYOND BOOK SMARTS Along with reinforcing the fundamentals of supply chain management, programs embrace a problem-solving approach, addressing the challenges that will loom large in the foreseeable future, from resiliency to sustainability. “We see more student demand from the field to incorporate an academic and professional focus on the changing dynamics of the post-pandemic world,” says Dara Schniederjans, associate professor of supply chain management and the director of the MS in Supply Chain and Applied Analytics Program at the University of Rhode Island’s College of Business. “Students no longer want general courses with overviews of topics from models dating back decades ago.” “Students seek a more complete understanding of the detailed issues that impact societal benefit going forward,” notes Professor Schniederjans. “Programs that
The global disruption that has happened the past three years has not only given
educators a lot of interesting topics to discuss, it has also allowed for an initial understanding of the supply chain for new students. The recent focus on advanced manufacturing is allowing for new opportunities at all schools. Hopefully, administrators recognize there is great overlap in logistics and manufacturing. –Jeremy D. Banta, MBA Assistant Professor & Program Coordinator Supply Chain Management Columbus State Community College
“Supply chain education programs increasingly emphasize risk management and resiliency,” notes Dr. Canan Gunes Corlu, associate professor, coordinator of supply chain management programs, and co-director, Decision Sciences Research Laboratory at Boston University. “The programs that stay on top of current trends in the market educate their students on analytical approaches as well as the digitalization of supply chains,” she says. FROM HYBRID TO HANDS-ON, OPTIONS EXPAND In addition to tweaking course content, supply chain programs are also adjusting how they impart and reinforce core skills. “Some programs have increased the focus on hands-on learning experiences, such as internships and case studies, to help students gain critical-thinking and practical skills,” says Professor Pappu from Texas A&M University. “Additionally, many programs have added online and hybrid formats to accommodate growing demand for flexible and accessible options.” Online and hybrid options are here to stay—both to provide students with more options and to keep them engaged with the course curriculum. “Educators must use clever audio and video hooks to keep
38 Inbound Logistics • February 2023
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