FEaTuRE Education
he says. “How can they universities to educate David Robb, from the Department of
teach these students if A lot of their students to start Management Science and Engineering/

they just don’t have the
people
contributing 100% right School of Economics at Tsinghua Uni-
necessary industry ex- out of college, whereas versity agrees that when his students go
pertise to educate the
in the
I have friends from ex- to find internships the program requires
people who will go into cellent universities in of them, they’re often unable or unwill-

this work industry?” Liu
classroom
the US who basically did ing to find positions in logistics and sup-
says that while the pro- nothing for 2 years but ply chain management. “I think many
fessors are still much may never go through an intensive students go for the remuneration in
better prepared than
have had a
training program with other fields like finance and accounting.”
their predecessors of 10 their company.” he says. However, Dr. Martin Stößlein,
years ago, many are still
good boss or
Patrick Moreton, As- who teaches at both Jilin University and
primitive in the practi- sociate Dean/Manag- the University of Dayton thinks that the
cal side of the profes-
role model
ing Director of the supply chain field actually has a more of
sion, don’t stay in touch Washington University a fan base than it might otherwise seem.
with the industry, and to learn of St Louis (WUSTL) “I also think the interest comes from
are not able to move to
from
-Fudan EMBA program economic trends and working opportu-
the next level says that experience nities in the manufacturing and service
Jack Kelley, President gaps within companies industry,” says Stößlein. “Students know
of the Shanghai Uni Supply Chain Re- themselves can also make it difficult for that supply chain management not only
source (a company focused on supply new hires to learn necessary develop- has a high entry level salary, but because
chain professional education) recently ment skills when they start work, due to it touches on so many different points
did a project with a domestic MBA pro- thinner management ranks. According to like strategy and finance, procurement,
gram. He also believes many professors him, a lot of people in his EMBA class production, and marketing, it can get you
are resistant to outside influences. Ac- are there because they haven’t had boss- up to top management.”
cording to him, there are some territorial es above them who could act as a role
issues with professors where they simply model and mentor. “A lot of these com- Concentration on Innovation
are not interested in working with people panies are very young and don’t have a Despite obstacles, there are programs
from the industry. “Professors are held generation of 50-year-old managers who that are beginning to look at supply chain
in high esteem and because of this often have huge amounts of supply chain ex- education differently. WUSTL at Fudan
remain unchallenged,” says Kelley. “But perience” says Moreton. “A lot of people University just started a program which
many of them don’t want to be chal- in classroom may never have had a good exports their students to the US for a
lenged and there is some resistance to boss or role model to learn from.” year to receive an MA in supply chain
new adaptations and methodologies.” management. Moreton feels not enough
Supply Chain Attraction students in China get the chance to go
Corporate Responsibility In addition to the influence that pro-
The corporate world, which obviously fessors and corporations have on sup-
stands to benefit most from high-quality ply chain education, it
graduates, also shares some responsibil- is also a problem get-
ity for enriching the workforce. Accord- ting the most quali-
ing to Liu, there are many companies fied students into the
in countries like the United States who supply chain field it-
invest in and support practical research. self. In a world where
This means sponsoring internships, de- marketing and finance
veloping training programs together jobs are considered the abroad, which may
with universities, and allowing students most glamorous, it can mean a lack of “in-
and professors into their factory to talk be hard to convince stu- ternational perspec-
about the production line. Liu says that dents that supply chain tive”. In addition to
companies here, especially native Chinese is the way to go. “To many students, go- have technical expertise, he says students
companies, have higher expectations of ing into marketing is like the promise of also need to be able to acquire soft skills
their university graduates but seldom do driving a BMW, whereas supply chain like communicating effectively and un-
anything to help educate the students. represents a KIA,” says Schober. “Put derstanding practices that maintains a
“When hiring new graduates, Companies yourself into the shoes of a student: consistency and culture world wide. “We
say hey these guys suck, why do I have What’s sexier? A BMW or a Kia…… think its best for student to acquire these
to train them?” says Liu. “They expect Sales or supply chain management?” skills through an immersion program,
www.supplychains.com MARCH/APRIL 2010 27
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