Open Enrollment

Continuing education is important not only for personal career development but also for learning new supply chain strategies and tactics. Here are a just a few examples of upcoming professional education programs around the world.

Master's program offers real-world experience

master of supply chain management program beginning in January 2008. This one-year program begins with an introduction to basic business disciplines, such as accounting, economics, marketing, and organizational behavior.

Students will also participate in a team-based summer project directed by a faculty supervisor at one of the school's corporate partners. The team will work on site to address a business problem identified by the sponsor company. When team members return to campus, they will conduct a detailed review and evaluation of the project.

Applicants are required to have completed the equivalent of a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree program and to have taken the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Tuition and fees are $38,988 for Michigan residents, $43,988 for nonresidents.

Program: University of Michigan's Master of Supply Chain Management Program
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A.
Application deadline: August 1, 2007
Classes start: January 2008
Info: www.bus.umich.edu/Admissions/MSCM

Grad program brings executives into the classroom

Northeastern University has designed its graduate certificate program in supply chain management to focus on current best practices and to provide opportunities for students to interact with professionals in the field.

The program consists of four courses: supply chain management, transportation, an executive roundtable in supply chain management, and global supply chain management. They include a mix of class discussions, individual research projects, case analyses, and visits from professionals in the field. Past years' visitors have included the president of Maersk Logistics and the senior vice president of logistics and operations at Staples. Tuition for each course is $3,330.

Program: Northeastern University Graduate Certificate in Supply Chain Management
Location: Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Application deadline: July 25, 2007
Classes start: September 5, 2007
Info: www.cba.neu.edu/graduate

INSEAD emphasizes value-based management

INSEAD Business School's Supply Chain Management Executive Education Program focuses on how supply chain managers can improve the flow of material, information, and cash by optimizing their supply chain processes, organizational structures, and enabling technologies.

The program strives to help executives align the members of their supply chain "ecosystems" and broaden their understanding of supply chain management. At the same time, the program's instructors emphasize value-based management—whether that means creating value through product, process, or supply chain design or capturing value by coordinating the activities of the various companies within the supply chain. Tuition is 7,650 euros.

Program: INSEAD Executive Education: Supply Chain Management
Location: Fontainebleau, France
Dates: October 29-November 2, 2007
Info: www.insead.edu/executives/scm.cfm

CSCMP University offers convenient, flexible training

Stuck at Chicago's O'Hare airport due to inclement weather? Have some down time during a business trip to Shanghai? Or a rare bit of free time at the office? As long as you have Internet access, CSCMP has made it possible for you to attend the supply chain class of your choice anytime, anywhere.

CSCMP's Supply Chain University offers a selection of 40 online classes covering a broad spectrum of topics. There are courses appropriate for all levels of supply chain expertise, and each is identified as "basic," "intermediate," or "advanced." Classes range from one to four hours in length.

CSCMP is collaborating with the consulting firm Accenture's Supply Chain Academy on this venture. The Supply Chain University draws its faculty of experts from across the globe, and some of the courses are offered in multiple languages. Prices range from $79 to $149.

Program: CSCMP's Supply Chain University
Info: www.cscmp.org/CSCMPStore/AccentureCourses.asp

Online program spotlights information systems

Pennsylvania State University's online program is designed to help students develop supply chain solutions for their organizations while gaining an understanding of how companies use supply chain networks to acquire, produce, and deliver goods and services both domestically and worldwide.

The Graduate Certificate in Supply Chain and Information Systems program integrates strategic procurement and supply management, demand fulfillment, supply chain planning, and network design processes along with the study of critical information systems. The courses will address such topics as information technology and decision support; supply strategy development, outsourcing, and supply segmentation; inventory cost analysis, planning, and control; and performance measurement.

The program consists of three classes of four credits each: supply chain management, transportation and distribution, and strategic procurement. The first course—supply chain management—can be taken either in the fall or spring semester. This gives prospective students two chances per year to apply. The entire program can be completed in 12 months.

Program: Penn State University's Graduate Certificate in Supply Chain and Information Systems
Info: www.worldcampus.psu.edu/certificates.shtml