UNE Partnerships is the first Australian organisation to offer a blended, internationally accredited supply chain qualification
By <a href="mailto:agamelopata@acpmagazines.com.au“>Anna Game-Lopata | February 3, 2010
UNE Partnerships is the first Australian organisation to offer a blended, internationally accredited supply chain qualification.
Awarded globally by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) UK and accredited through the UK qualifications authority, the “Professional Diploma in Logistics and Transport” is recognised internationally as a benchmark for high level Logistics and Supply Chain management education.
According to UNE Partnerships Director of Business Development Kathryn Hogan, the qualification is taught at a postgraduate diploma level and with appropriate grades.
Graduating students who complete through the UNE Partnerships model are eligible to apply, subject to normal enrolment conditions, for enrolment into the Master in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Massey University, New Zealand,” she says.
“Previous graduates have also applied to enrol in other Masters programs at universities in Australia, NZ, the UK and EU.
“Simply put, this qualification gives recognition to and builds on workplace experience, while offering a vocational pathway into Masters of Logistics and Supply Chain Management,” Hogan says.
While the course has been offered in Australia as a distance program, commencing March 7th it will also comprise compulsory block courses as two-day workshops, supported by industry experts and mentors and site visits.
“The Professional Diploma program is delivered at a very high level and targeted at people who have logistics and supply chain management roles,” Kathryn Hogan says.
“Students come from roles in transport, procurement, warehousing, inventory, forwarding, shipping, customer service and sales; and from commercial, government, NGO and military organisations.
“Whether it’s in the manufacturing, mining, medical or military fields, integrated logistics and supply chain activities underpin business efficiency and cost management,”
she says.
“Students benefit from at least three years experience in the industry at a management level.
Apart from reinforcing world’s best practice, the diploma provides an avenue for extending a student’s skills outside their normal role to provide a professional development pathway.
“Workshop courses allow students to form collegial associations and, along with students’ professional membership in CILT Australia (CILTA), provide excellent networking opportunities,” Hogan says.
Enrolments are still being taken for the inaugral course in March which will be delivered as two core modules during the year, followed by two electives relevant to students’ professional roles.
“Module one will be delivered at the Radisson Hotel in Sydney as a once off for our first year and industry site visits are also planned,” Hogan says.
Designed to be completely flexible to the needs of full time workers, the course takes two years to complete part time.
“If students miss out on the first enrolment timeframe, they can easily enrol in the second module and complete the Supply Chain module in the first semester of the following year,” Hogan says.
“The course rolls over each year and people can come in at either of the compulsory modules at their first enrolment.”
Topics include supply chain concepts, lean and agile supply chains, supply chain performance drivers, people management and organisational dynamics.
There are
nine elective modules which range from inventory to warehousing, production planning, sourcing and international business.
Spearheaded by UNE Partnerships Managing Director Richard Doyle, the initiative has been developed in conjuction with Course Director Walter Glass from the Logistics Training Group and Massey University in New Zealand.
The Logistics Training Group is one of the few Approved Service Providers accredited for the UK qualification worldwide.
“We see ourselves as a high quality provider in the middle of the market,” Hogan says.
“Rather than mass enrolments, we aim for high quality targeted training for our clients and we form long term relationships, by delivering outcomes for individuals and for organisations.”
In line with this goal, Hogan will meet with CILT Australia (CILTA) Chief Executive Hal Morris this week to cement a partnership which she hopes will furnish CILTA with fresh membership and UNE Partnerships with students for the new blended course.
“CILTA is currently playing an important role in mapping CILT qualifications to the Australian Qualifications Framework,” Hogan says.
“It is working on developing mapping so that its programs have competency arrangements that match the wider Australian system.”
In addition, UNE Partnerships will promote the course at Sydney’s Smart Conference in May.
Hogan says the new course is filling up quickly, with participants competing for fifteen available places.
“Employers usually sponsor a student into the program because it is seen as a way to enable professional development that often results in immediate and ongoing productivity gains for the individual and organisation as a whole,” Hogan says.
Colgate-Palmolive National Distribution & Warehouse Manager Ross Cummins completed the Profesional Diploma of Transport and Logistics
course in New Zealand.
He says it’s a practical and versatile qualification.
“The Diploma has allowed me to perform at a higher level with confidence,” Cummins says.
“The skills are extraordinarily practical and I have applied them widely from redesigning warehouse layouts and developing new methods of operation to creating job specifications and recruitment briefs.
“It (the program) is easily the most cost and time effective study that I have undertaken.
“I often come into contact with Diploma alumni and this provides a level of mutual respect that translates into improved business relationships and personal opportunities.
“I would absolutely and without reservation recommend the UK Diploma.
“I continually encourage my peers and direct reports to consider this Diploma as a necessary step toward the professionalism that is required in logistics today.”
Enrolment: Enrolments are open until 1 March
Contact: tessa.glass@unep.edu.au
Tessa will email and call you to discuss course details.
For further information http://www.unep.edu.au/Logistics
ABOUT UNE PARTNERSHIPS
Set up 25 years ago as a university extension company, UNE Partnerships has become a commercial arm of the Armidale, NSW-based University of New England (UNE).
UNE Partnerships has provided vocational training and university training under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) for the past 15 years.
Courses extend from Certificate 3 through to Level 6 which is an Advanced Diploma,and short courses.
Programs specialise in administration and management qualifications for individuals and customised for corporate groups. Targeted industry based courses are offered through partnerships with industry associations.