PARASOLS

Problem definition

In a globalized and highly volatile environment, logistics and supply chain managers (LSCM) bear a central social responsibility: they secure the supply of the economy and population across a wide range of industries. Their tasks range from analytical demand planning and integrated sales and production planning to risk management and the design of resilient and sustainable supply chains. In doing so, they manage material, information and financial flows within increasingly complex, networked value chains.

The economic importance of this sector is enormous: the European market for third-party logistics alone achieved a volume of USD 253 billion in 2022 and will continue to grow in the coming years. At the same time, the demand for qualified specialists who can meet the growing requirements is increasing.

Global crises are further exacerbating these challenges. Among other things, the war in Ukraine led to an increase in transportation costs of around 30% and to bottlenecks in energy and food supplies. The COVID-19 pandemic affected around 75% of European companies and caused annual costs of over EUR 112 billion due to inefficient processes. In this unstable environment, adaptability has become a key success factor.

At the same time, the reduction of negative ecological impacts in production and consumption is becoming increasingly important. New regulatory requirements such as the EU Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) will oblige more than 50,000 companies to produce comprehensive sustainability reports and operate responsibly from 2024. Consumers are also driving this change: sales of fair trade products are rising continuously and, despite the rising cost of living, there is a high willingness to pay for sustainable products.

The financial sector is also responding to these developments. Studies show that sustainability criteria will have a significant influence on lending in the future and that numerous financial products are already linked to sustainability targets. As a result, green finance and supply chain finance management are becoming increasingly important as key areas of expertise in supply chain management.

In addition, digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) are fundamentally changing the work of LSCM. Data-based decision-making, digital forecasting models and AI-supported risk and procurement processes require new technical and methodological skills.

Objective

The aim of the project is to identify future key competencies in supply chain management and to develop an innovative, practice-oriented learning concept. The focus is on four central future topics:

• Resilience of supply chains
• Digital technologies in the supply chain
• Sustainable supply chain management
• Supply chain finance

Students are specifically prepared for future career profiles, while companies benefit from well-trained, practically qualified junior staff.

Approach

Relevant skills and best practices are identified on the basis of a comprehensive literature review, a labor market analysis and a benchmark of existing study programs in the field of logistics and supply chain management.

The results are empirically validated through interviews and workshops with academics and representatives from the field. Based on the requirements of all relevant stakeholders, a holistic educational concept will be developed that integrates didactic, organizational and technical aspects.

The teaching and learning materials developed will be implemented at the partner universities and evaluated and further developed in close cooperation with an accompanying advisory board.