Industry and academia faces a severe shortage of supply chain management talent at a time when the demands on the profession have never been greater. In a bid to address this shortage, the Department of Business Management at the University of Pretoria (UP) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the African Women in Supply Chain Association (AWISCA) on 24 June 2019.

 

The parties have agreed to work together in developing supply chain management skills and capacity within Southern Africa, through focused functional mentorship and coaching. The agreement, signed by the Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Prof Elsabé Loots, and the founder of AWISCA, Lebogang Letsoalo, will be effective for a period of two years.

 

Both partners will strive to unlock and develop supply chain capacity and capabilities through focused and results-oriented programmes and initiatives in partnership with industry leaders. The aim is to encourage students to participate in the industry and gain exposure to ensure workplace readiness.

 

The partners will also introduce entrepreneurship interventions to enhance the business capabilities of potential young entrepreneurs within the field of supply chain management. Professionals in the industry will get the opportunity to contribute their skills, while students of supply chain management will have the opportunity to be mentored and coached. Entrepreneurs will obtain the benefit of business support and mentorship to enhance technical supply chain skills through enterprise and supplier development initiatives. The partnership with AWISCA will also develop and grow women in supply chain through focused mentorship and coaching interventions. Assilah Agigi, Lecturer in Supply Chain Management, will coordinate the relationship with AWISCA and the various projects to flow from this collaborative agreement.

 

Seated: Lebogang Letsoalo of AWISCA and Prof Elsabé Loots, EMS Dean

Standing: Business Management staff Wesley Niemann, Assilah Agigi and Prof Alex Antonites (Head of Department)