9 March 2007 Mobile world needs transport and logistics graduates

Never has the world been more mobile. With more industriousness than ants in an anthill we humans move ourselves and our products around like never before.

Transport and logistics are the technical terms and for people qualified in these areas there are plenty of great career opportunities.

"Qualifications are however the key to job entry and promotion in today's competitive employment market," says Lincoln University's Professor of Transport Studies, Chris Kissling.

Lincoln University has been in the business of teaching Transport and Logistics for 13 years and has developed an extensive portfolio of industry related qualifications from undergraduate degrees through to PhD.

The portfolio starts with a named bachelor's degree, the Bachelor of Commerce (Transport and Logistics) which offers 11 majors, the most common being Business Management, Computing, International Business and Marketing.

"Within this degree programme students can pick up two other majors and complete a very comprehensive overall degree," says Professor Kissling.

"This is a unique degree in New Zealand and it readies graduates for careers in all modes of transport including multimodal transport, supply chain management and logistics management, transport policy analysis, planning and environment – in government or private consulting positions – and there are also great opportunities in international careers."

Completion of this degree meets the professional academic requirements for membership of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and that membership is transferable to any national division of the institute worldwide.

Lincoln University's Bachelor of Commerce and Management degree (BCM) with a major in Supply Chain Management is similar to the BCom (Transport & Logistics) with the same list of majors, including Supply Chain Management, but only one other major can be added.

Other Transport and Logistics qualifications available at Lincoln University are the Graduate Diploma in Commerce, with a focus on transport and logistics; the Postgraduate Diploma or Certificate in Commerce or in Applied Science with a specialisation in Transport and Logistics; the Master of Applied Science (Transport Studies); the Master of Professional Studies (Transport Management) and PhD.

For those already in employment at management level in the transport industry the Master of Professional Studies programme offers an opportunity to acquire a top-level, industry specific qualification that can potentially be a springboard to senior management positions. The degree can be completed on a part-time basis, one subject per semester, with access to the programme from anywhere in New Zealand. Candidates do six postgraduate papers that cover both specialist subjects in transport and logistics and general management subjects, and then finish with a dissertation.

"For doctoral level study Lincoln University receives many enquiries from overseas students who are well qualified academically to undertake PhD study. These students usually need some financial support over the three years it takes to complete a PhD and they are therefore very open to work on topics of interest to New Zealand businesses, especially if financial support is available," says Professor Kissling.

"This is a point worth bearing in mind if you are in an industry with funding available for a research project or investigation," says Professor Kissling.

"I am always keen to hear about potential research opportunities for our masters and PhD students."