The BSc Supply Chain Management and Logistics offers its students expertise in all aspects of supply chain management, and enables them to specialize in a number of methods and techniques regarding the theoretical as well as the technical part of the industry. Students are able to study in depth all significant areas in supply chain management and develop the required understanding in order to be successful in this sector.
Educational aims/key skills
The objectives of the programme are the following:
1. To identify the fundamental theories and concepts and methods that inform supply chain management within a variety of organisational settings and in a variety of disciplines.
2. To demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of specialised areas pertaining to different supply chain functions.
3. To display specialised technical, analytical and creative skills which are fundamental to problem solving and decision making.
4. To apply knowledge in a variety of enterprise settings.
5. To transfer and apply skills developed to a range of situations including the workplace and further study.
6. To cultivate skills in problem identification, research design, data analysis and problem solving and exploit those skills to enhance innovation and facilitate process optimization.
Delivery Mode: Online and through Supported Open Learning
Entry Requirements:
Admission Requirements:
- Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) with 6 credit passes (grades 1-6) including English or international equivalent qualification
- English proficiency: Grade 6 or better on the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) or equivalent English language qualification
- Copy of valid passport or national ID
Year 1
Course Credits: 24.00
Course Description:
The module exposes students to the practice of management, i.e. initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing the work of a team to achieve specific goals and meet specific success criteria at the specified time.
Course Objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
To introduce students to the basic concepts and functions of management.
To introduce students to a range of important management processes, which can be used to support the main management functions.
To help students understand the nature of the external business environment and its effect on the organization
To provide students with an understanding of the systemic nature of organizations.
To guide students, in appreciating the importance of human resources in management.
To help students appreciate the importance of team work in management and become effective team players.
To familiarize students with decision making tools and develop their analytical skills.
To develop students’ critical thinking and their ability to develop an argument and to defend a position.
To encourage students to engage in debates on management issues, including controversial management topics.
Course Credits: 24.00
Course Description:
This module considers the essential, underlying theory and concepts that are involved in the operations management of an organization, as well as to how they can maintain it successful and functional.
Course Objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
To introduce students to the basic concepts of operations management.
To introduce students to the transformation process that converts organizational resources to finished products.
To help student understand the nature of the external business environment and its effect on the organization.
To help students understand the systemic nature of organizations.
To develop students’ critical thinking and their ability to develop an argument and to defend a position.
To encourage students to engage in debates on management issues, including controversial management topics.
Credits: 24.00
Course Description:
The main purpose of this course is to enable students to understand the key supply-chain management concepts as well as become familiar with operations management and its relationship with other functional management areas.
Course Objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
To understand the significance of supply chain management and its key sub-categories such as logistics, purchasing and operations management.
To be able to form business strategies regarding the supply chain management industry.
To build a foundational background in supply chain management and the wide range of tools they can use to analyze and improve supply chain processes.
To evaluate the power of supply chain management to contribute to an organization’s overall competitive advantage.
To understand the key supply chain issues and implications.
Credits: 24.00
Course Description:
This course aims to introduce students into basic concepts regarding the international business setting and apply some core theories into practice. During this course, students will also be able to assess key factors defining the global economy and look at various business environments around the world.
Course Objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
To provide a comprehensive introduction to the interdisciplinary subject of international business.
To examine the economic and financial underpinnings of international business and the organizational and cultural issues that increasingly vital to a successful business.
To analyse the competitive environment and the strategic view of international business.
To synthesize and apply existing theories across various disciplines.
Credits: 24.00
Course Description:
This introductory course in Information Technology is designed to introduce students to the world of digital technology and expose them to systems and applications that will be of great use in their workplace and career in general.
Course Objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
To introduce students to the digital world by considering fundamental computer hardware and the most popular microcomputer applications.
To explain systems and applications software.
To introduce and practice file management, data storage and security principles.
To consider basic operating system features (using the Windows environment).
To give students hands-on experience on popular application software packages, which may include word processing, electronic spreadsheets, database management, presentation graphics, statistical applications and other.
To apply knowledge learned to applications specific to Supply Chain Management and/or Logistics.
To explore the Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW) using browser software for exploration and searching.
To introduce e-mail, newsgroups, multimedia, and other Internet services and resources.
To introduce computer-assisted and distance learning; the university’s InterLearning environment.
Year 2
Credits: 24.00
Course Description:
This course is designed to introduce front line managers to the theory and practice of Quality
Management. It will also help students to develop the skills to apply the tasks and techniques to the continuous improvement initiatives in the workplace. In addition, it will provide insight and understanding to the linkage of quality management to main stream management theories.
Course Objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
To explain the different meanings of the quality concept and its influence.
To describe, distinguish and use the several techniques and quality management tools.
To explain and distinguish the normalization, homologation and certification activities.
To identify the elements that are part of the quality measuring process in the industry.
To predict the errors in the measuring process, distinguishing its nature and the root causes.
To justify whether or not a measuring process fulfils the established quality requirements.
To understand and calculate the correction and uncertainty parameters as a result of aninstrument calibration.
To explain the regulation and the phases of a quality system certification process.
Credits: 24.00
Course Description:
The course aids the students to develop knowledge and skills in the advanced understanding of statistics in order to be able to conduct research and analyse statistical data. Students will also be able to use advanced.
Course Objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
To make students aware of the concept of measures of central tendency and variation.
To make students aware of elementary probability theory.
To cover in detail all aspects of the binomial and the normal random variables and distributions.
To thoroughly discuss estimation and hypothesis testing.
Credits: 24.00
Course Description:
Strategy is an organizational management activity used to set priorities, focus energy and resources, strengthen operations, ensure that employees and other stakeholders are working toward common goals, establish agreement around intended outcomes/results, and assess and adjust the organization’s direction in response to a changing environment.
Course Objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
To make students aware of the various business disciplines.
To teach how to integrate their knowledge.
To apply this knowledge to the planning and managing of strategic business activities.
To explore the management and strategy concepts and analytical techniques.
To build on and expose students to the general management ‘big picture’, thereby providing a cross-functional and strategic perspective.
To stress the interrelationships between different aspects of the organisation and the integrated nature of strategy.
To integrate their knowledge of the various business disciplines and to apply this knowledge to the planning and managing of strategic business activities.
Credits: 24.00
Course Description:
This module is designed to provide an introduction to the role of the front line manager, and to develop understanding of the theories, concepts and techniques of self-management.
Course Objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
To become aware of personal effectiveness.
To develop skills in personal development planning and action planning.
To provide insight and knowledge in the theories of management and leadership.
To develop an understanding of the key competencies and skills associated with effective management and leadership.
Credits: 24.00
Course Description:
This module exposes students to suitable areas for research and development of detailed research questions with the aim, scope, objectives and success criteria for projects, while giving them ability to explain and justify their research question, its aim, scope, objectives and success criteria.
Course Objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
To collect and analyze data for the purpose of resolving an issue(s) directly related to organizational behavior
To undertake, complete and submit a project using appropriate planning, methodological, evaluative and presentational techniques
To develop competencies, together with intrapersonal and interpersonal skills, through participation in a group project
To analyze the influence of students’ own background and behavior and develop student sensitivity to others
To critically evaluate the nature and effects of preconceptions and
To confidently interact with others in a number of organizational settings
To develop a range of core (or transferable) skills, including: communication – orally and in writing problem – solving learning to learn (use of resources) and team-working
Year 3
Credits: 24.00
Course Description:
During this course the students will be able to gain an in-depth knowledge of the context, role and objectives of any purchasing activities in supply chain management and some of the core concepts in supply based development.
Course Objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
To understand the underlying concepts that determine how supply chain-based processes take place.
To demonstrate knowledge of processes regarding the purchasing activities in supply chains.
To understand the importance of the context, roles and objectives of a purchase in the supply chain industry.
To understand the different key concepts related to the development of supply chains.
Credits: 24.00
Course Description:
The module exposes students to the ways in which supply chain and manufacturing techniques result in great benefits in the value chain. Students will also be able to view the rapid expansion of the supply chain industry and how to predict possible dangers and avoid them.
Course Objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
To develop a knowledge and understanding of supply chain and manufacturing methodologies for example, lean, Just-in-Time and outsourced supplier networks.
To provide benefits in the value chain.
To expand supplier-based supply chains and help organizations to gain cost advantages at the same time, without having an unstable supply chain.
To provide a supply chain manager all the necessary skills and competencies in order to cope within such an environment.
Credits: 24.00
Course Description:
This module enables students to gain the knowledge and experience of applying quantitative problem solving required in the areas of supply chain management and logistics.
Course Objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
To learn how to apply transportation and network planning, inventory decision making, facility location planning.
Credits: 24.00
Course Description:
This module enables students to develop management methods and techniques in order to plan and handle the flow of materials, the incoming information and the value of a supply chain.
Course Objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
To develop management techniques for planning and controlling the flow of materials, information and value in a supply chain.
To describe current planning systems and how they are used for planning the supply chain.
Credits: 24.00
Course Description:
Economic, operating, and service characteristics of the various modes of transportation, with a special emphasis on freight transportation. Factors that influence transport demand, costs, market structures, carrier pricing, and carrier operating and service characteristics and their influence on other supply chain costs and supply chain performance.
This module provides students with knowledge, understanding and skills in logistics and transport management and their environment.
Course Objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
To develop an understanding of the factors that influence transport demand, costs, market structures, pricing and service characteristics.
To gain knowledge of how the above influence other supply chain costs and performance.
Year 4
Credits: 24.00
Course Description:
During this course, students will explore facilities management as a multidisciplinary function.
Course Objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
To introduce students to concept and purpose of Facilities Management.
To prepare students for the successful planning, budgeting, operating, constructing and maintaining of facilities.
Credits: 24.00
Course Description:
This course considers the essential, underlying theory and concepts that are involved in the handling of customer relationships within the Supply Chain industry and how logistical decisions influence the performance of the company as well as the entire supply chain sector.
Course Objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
To understand how logistical decisions, impact the performance of the firm.
To assess the link between supply chain structures and logistical capabilities in a firm – or the entire supply chain.
To integrate information and material flow across multiple organizations in the supply chain.
To manage functional areas of logistics such as customer service, transportation and order processing.
Credits: 24.00
Course Description:
This course considers that Supply Chain Management involves the flows of materials and information among all of the firms that contribute value to a product, from the source of raw materials to end customers. We will integrate issues from marketing (channels of distribution), logistics, and operations management to develop a broad understanding of a supply chain. By taking a strategic perspective, we will focus on relatively long-term decisions involving the investment in productive resources, configuration of processes, product designs, and development of partnerships with suppliers and channels of distribution.
Course Objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
To improve the students understanding of operations strategies.
To introduce to students various current aspects, issues and initiatives about today’s business operations.
Credits: 24.00
Course Description:
This module exposes students to suitable areas of management techniques and students will develop skills in assessing, explaining and applying alternative costing systems. In addition, students will be able to apply budgeting techniques and distinguish between information and categories of business decisions.
Course Objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
To explain, apply and evaluate alternative costing systems and management techniques.
To provide an in-depth understanding of the use of standard costing to measure and evaluate performance and to take remedial action.
To apply budgeting techniques and evaluate alternative methods of budgeting, planning and control.
To explain the agency theory and show how to assess the performance of business units and managers within the organization.
To train students to identify and measure information which is relevant for different types of business decisions.
Course Title: Business Research Methods and Project
Course Code: UU-BBA-4010-MW
Programme: Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Supply Chain Management and Logistics – MW
Credits: 24.00
Course Description:
Module Description
The module provides an overview of the research process; it reviews qualitative and quantitative research methods, theoretical implications and the role and importance of research for strategic and operational managerial practice and problem solving. The student undertakes a research project and writes a report
Module Aim
The aim of this module is to give students an opportunity to: appreciate the research process; investigate a business problem in a scientific manner; apply conceptual knowledge in a practical situation; experience the art and science of conducting a study in a systematic way; and present research findings in the form of report.
Module Learning Outcomes
After completing the module students should be able to:
- Develop a research topic, problem statement, and hypothesis
- Distinguish different research designs
- Develop appropriate research instruments
- Implement a research plan
- Analyze data
- Interpret data
- Present a written report
Prerequisites: UU-BA-IND100, UU-FNT-103
Prerequisites Categories: Year 1, Year 2, Year 3
Typical Module duration: 7.0 Week(s)
