These days supply chain management is no longer considered to be simply a fancy business term. International freight forwarding and distribution is now a major industry in Hong Kong; some estimates suggest that up to a quarter of local jobs are in some way related to the sector.

However, the provision of dedicated courses for the logistics industry has until recently been limited, something the Hong Kong Baptist University School of Continuing Education (HKBU SCE) hopes to rectify with its two postgraduate degree programmes: a Master of Science in Procurement Management in association with the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow and a Master of Science (Logistics) in association with the University of Wollongong (to be launched in July).

"When we initially offered the MSc in Procurement Management in 1999, it was the first of its kind in Hong Kong," recalls Philip Chan, senior programme administrator, Development Division. "Indeed, back then the University of Strathclyde was the only British university to offer such a course."

Chan feels that although the professional level of Hong Kong's logistics workforce is already very high, this can be further improved with relevant study.

"There are many very experienced people in the industry, but in many cases their educational background does not match their practical knowledge," he says. "By taking a postgraduate course they can learn international techniques and theories of immediate use in the workplace."

In the current economic climate, many employees are eager to find ways to improve their competitiveness in the workplace yet are wary of committing too much effort to education in case it affects their professional performance. While the career benefits of a Master's degree are considerable, Chan recommends prospective students carefully consider what is involved before signing up.

"Taking a postgraduate course while in fulltime employment is a major undertaking," he says. "Participants need a very high level of commitment and have to really want to succeed. Given the career pressures that some students might encounter, there is a possibility that they may not complete the course, which is something they should consider before enrolling. Effective time management is essential if they are to juggle their work and a course."

Apart from the obvious benefits of being able to add an MSc to your CV, taking a postgraduate can also improve a career in other aspects.

"The networking aspect of these courses is very important; they are a good opportunity to meet like-minded professionals," says programme administrator Rita Yeung. "The lecturers and tutors involved also have considerable industry experience which could prove invaluable."

Other salient aspects of the HKBU SCE courses include CIPS accreditation for students who complete the MSC in Procurement Management and an option to study for an MBA with approximately half the credits waived for MSc (Logistics) graduates.

Another factor to consider is price. Whether a student is being sponsored by his company or is paying the tuition fees himself, in the current climate of cost cutting and belt-tightening it can be difficult to justify the expense of a postgraduate course.

"The HKBU SCE courses are very cost effective," says Karen Lai, assistant to the Dean. "The MSc (Logistics) course fees are only around A$20,000 while the MSc in Procurement Management is about $85,000. Typically an MBA course might cost twice as much."

Text: Edward Chung

Taken from Career Times 2002/01/25