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With the MSc in Procurement and Supply Chain Management, you will find yourself studying in 2 countries. Join a diverse, international cohort and delve into logistics, procurement, operations and supply chains. Apply theory in practical settings through varied classes, assignments and workshops.
The MSC is split up in three terms: Term 1 is offered in Venlo (The Netherlands), term 2 in Plymouth (UK) and term 3 is devoted to your master thesis and can be completed anywhere.
The first term in Venlo provides a fundamental knowledge of supply chains, production control systems, economics and maritime finance, business modelling and academic research skills. During the second term in Plymouth, the students choose one of 3 pathways to deepen their knowledge in international logistics, international procurement or operations management. All pathways also include a main module in Supply Chain Management. The third term is dedicated to the dissertation and can be completed at any chosen location. You will receive guidance from a member of academic staff, appointed as your supervisor. Regarding their dissertation, students of the MSC can either focus on a research oriented topic or follow a practical approach where the graduate works in an enterprise of his or her choice to develop a solution for a real-life business challenge/problem.
Understanding the implications of decision making in supply chains requires a solid understanding of both economic and financial principles. As Managing a supply chain means being aware of economic and financial implications of both external effects and internal changes to the supply chain in question, this module aims to create the fundamental knowledge necessary for such a skill.
In Economics, you will delve into various generic and specific economic concepts and dynamics that help understand the workings of supply chains. This will be done by practical application in direct proximity to these concepts. The economic part of this module is complemented by business finance & statistics in maritime industries, including interpretation of traditional accounts and analysis of corporate performance and approaches to investment appraisal.
A supply chain professional needs to understand the core principles and workings in supply chains, and should be able to base their decisions on quantitative and qualitative evidence. Therefore, the aim of this module is to provide a deeper introduction to the topic of supply chain management, and to complement this knowledge with quantitative methods for decision-making within the professional discipline.
Whilst one part of the module will focus on the core topic of Supply Chain Management and relevant practices and developments, the other part deals with quantitative problem-solving skills and optimization by means of appropriate supply chain tooling. The latter involves tackling supply chain related optimization problems and risk-analysis techniques using data present in the supply chain. Such techniques will not only be applied in practical contexts, but also their outcome and how to communicate it best makes for a part of the relevant insights within this module.
Sustainable development and social responsibility are fundamental drivers of supply chain practises around the world. This module provides students with an in-depth examination of such issues across the supply chain, taking into account differing perspectives and underlying drivers. The module provides students with a toolkit to effectively manage sustainable supply chains.
In this module you analyse the implications of decisions taken by international channel management in the context of international logistics. This includes evaluating roles of commercial institutions and assessing international logistics strategies.
In this module you analyse principles underlying procurement processes and strategies. You explore the development and centrality of procurement as an integrated business function in supply chains, its interaction with other functions and organisations.
This module considers how to use business operations to achieve sustainable competitive advantage. Operations strategy is highlighted, showing how it needs to inform and underpin the design and improvement of all operational processes to ensure increased cost efficiency and maximise operational effectiveness.
In the Project/Dissertation you will be expected to research a topic or problem related to your award title on the basis of relevant literature and appropriate empirical work. You may choose to participate in either an established research area or follow a line of work based on your own interest. This research project can be undertaken at any appropriate location worldwide.
At Fontys we believe that a range of different study approaches prepare you best for the business field after graduation; workshops, lectures, group work, guest lectures, assignments, group discussions, logistics excursions and case studies. All modules within the MSC are completed with a mix of group and individual assignments that may consist of reports, presentations or written exams (depending on the module).
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