Demand has never been higher to quickly and efficiently make goods and services available where and when they are needed, and a new program at West Virginia University will provide much needed supply chain professionals at companies around the world.

On the heels of approval by the WVU Board of Governors last month, students may declare a major in global supply chain management at the College of Business and Economics starting with the fall 2016 semester.

“We live in a time when there is an expectation that goods and services will be provided where there is demand for them,” said B&E Interim Dean Nancy McIntyre. “The global marketplace has a very real need for people whose talents lie in the area of supply chain management, and our plan is to provide well educated, well qualified and well prepared graduates for these attractive jobs all over the world.”

Click below to hear the WVUToday radio spot about the new program.

The Bachelor of Science degree program in global supply chain management was approved by the WVU board to address an identified shortage of professionals with the knowledge to meet the challenges of this business emphasis.

“This new major will be an exciting and rewarding opportunity for incoming business students,” said Provost Joyce McConnell. “Graduates from the program will be valuable contributors to our increasingly global economy, actively improving people’s lives with their expertise.”

The program curriculum provides a strong global perspective, systems orientation and information technology training. Students will take on areas of study that include sourcing and supply management, logistics and distribution management, supply chain planning and analytics, global supply chain strategies, and managing information technology.

“The rebirth of manufacturing in West Virginia and throughout the United States is of great importance to our global supply chain management program,” said McIntyre. “The program has evolved over the past few years from an area of emphasis to the structuring of an academic major, and generous gifts specifically for the program have enabled B&E to build a curriculum that prepares students for these high-demand jobs.”

A four-member team from West Virginia University captured first place in the Race to the Case Supply Chain Management competition at the University of Pittsburgh in October. WVU’s team was comprised of two B&E supply chain students and two engineering students from the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. McIntyre said the competition win served as a huge motivator as B&E moved toward the reality of a major area of study.

“The WVU team’s performance in Pittsburgh last fall not only reflected our work on the curriculum and instilling that knowledge in students, but also demonstrated a critical skill in collaborating with others who have different technical and functional knowledge to solve complex problems,” McIntyre said. “The market demands that certain goods and services be made available in specific geographic areas, and talented supply chain management professionals will make that happen. We have every confidence that the result of the case competition is a sign of things to come.”

For further information about the WVU College of Business and Economics, follow B&E on Twitter at @wvucobe or visit be.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

CONTACT: Patrick Gregg, WVU College of Business and Economics
304.293.5131; Patrick.Gregg@mail.wvu.edu

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