Logistics and supply chain education and jobs: a study of UK markets

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the curriculum design of logistics and supply chain management (LSCM) undergraduate courses offered by selected UK higher education (HE) institutions and compares them with employers’ job requirements in the UK. Design/methodology/approach – Desk-based research involving content analysis of 22 selected undergraduate LSCM courses from 18 UK HE institutions and job advertisements from an online recruitment web site during 12 weeks in 2011-2012. Findings – In general, LSCM recruiters highlighted the importance of professional skills and general management knowledge rather than specific LSCM subject knowledge. Work experience is important even at the entry level. As the roles become more senior, as indicated by higher salaries, more LSCM subject knowledge and work experience is required. The findings indicate an imbalance between the undergraduate curriculum and employer needs. Only some of the LSCM undergraduates programmes investigated provided such a balance of curriculum design. Research limitations/implications – This paper is based on published information in web sites and also job adverts. More studies of the detailed syllabuses for the courses and the overall learning experiences of students are required. Practical implications – This paper highlights the importance of general managerial skills and professional skills to meet the needs of employers. Graduates are expected to be able to manage and acquire additional LSCM knowledge when required indicating the importance of continuing professional development. Originality/value – The methodology of this paper takes advantages of the availability of up-to-date “live” data via the internet. As a result, this study provides new insights into the LSCM employer requirements for three salary brackets, from entry level to senior level, and it indicates the “right” balance of curriculum design for LSCM graduates in the present days.