ENTER GROWTH SECTOR
Supply chain training offers wide range of career paths
To offer more flexibility to learners interested in entering or advancing in the areas of supply chain management and logistics, George Brown College’s School of Continuing Education facilitates an entirely online supply chain management certificate program.
“The supply chain sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in the economy with a wide range of career paths,” says Greg Fettes, who helped to develop and teaches in the program. “We wanted the program to be open to anyone with an interest in getting into this field.
“The first course is an introduction which helps students gain an overall understanding of the supply chain sector and sets the foundation for the other courses in the program.”
With a focus on areas within the supply chain that are experiencing growth and to keep the program relevant to current trends, George Brown has included courses such as supply chain technology (which forgoes textbooks in favour of current articles to ensure relevance), green supply chain (which focuses on the environmental impacts on the supply chain) and a risk management course, which Fettes says has become a very hot issue in supply chain.
“That course exposes students to areas that deal with major disruptions in supply chain due to unusual events — natural disasters, political instability, transportation failure — and how to handle such events,” he says.
Courses are split into weekly modules with students working on a specific topic that’s supported by readings from textbooks or articles and a weekly quiz. The program also makes use of weekly discussion topics that see students share ideas and experiences. A case study students must submit, along with a final exam at the end of each course, rounds out training.
“Students have developed a real sense of community on the discussion boards and share ideas, which has really helped those new to the industry,” says Fettes. “Because students are usually very willing to share their experiences, it gives the class exposure to real-life work situations. The case studies, meanwhile, help students develop skills in problem solving, analyzing data and decision making.”
The Canadian Supply Chain Research Foundation, through its National Accreditation program, accredits George Brown’s offering.