UJ’s department of transport and supply chain management celebrates 50 years of excellence
The University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) department of transport and supply chain management in the Johannesburg Business School, College of Business and Economics, is celebrating 50 years of success and achievements. The department was established in 1968 as the department of transport economics at what was the Rand Afrikaans University (RAU). A name change followed in 1997 to the department of transport and logistics management. After the merger between RAU and the Technikon Witwatersrand to UJ, the name department of transport and supply chain management evolved with the purpose to position the department strategically in higher education and in the transport and supply chain industry.
The department offers a rich portfolio of diplomas, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and a number of continuing education programmes that are industry specific. These qualifications and programmes were developed in collaboration with South African, continental and global higher education institutions, industry partners and local government. Memorandums of understanding were signed with local and international universities to strengthen and expand transportation studies, training programmes and collaborative research.
The department’s continuous education programmes, which have been offered since 1980, attract thousands of enrolments annually. To meet the changing learning and training needs of prospective stu- dents in a new era of complexity and on-going technologically advancement, the department has been actively involved in developing three online programmes: two advanced diplomas and an online logistics diploma.
Since 2007, the department has entered into an agreement to fund four annual transport forum special interest groups, developed and published the Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management and signed a collaboration agreement with the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies, Sydney for the establishment of the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies, Africa.
Purpose-driven values and principles are at the core of the department, which aims to provide a comprehensive range of excellent education, training and research programmes for the domestic, continental and international trans- port and supply chain community. Within the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with its general innovations, increased competition, changing demographic trends, globalised markets and shifting customer profiles, the department continuously seeks and implements valuable and game-changing opportunities for the future.
In celebration of its achievements, the department would like to acknowledge and salute all staff members, experts, collaborative partners and industry, alumni and students for their contribution to its success over the past 50 years and for paving an interesting and exciting new chapter for the next 50 years.