DENTON (UNT), Texas — The University of North Texas' Logistics and Supply Chain Management program of the College of Business was ranked third in a new study of supply chain technology education by Software Advice, an online database providing research and reviews of software applications. UNT ranked highly due to its integration of new technology into the program.
"UNT is leading the way and is an exemplar for what a truly modern Supply Chain Management education looks like," said Forrest Burnson, the Software Advice researcher who conducted the study. "UNT's undergraduate supply chain management program ranked highly on our list due to its strong emphasis on teaching the digital tools that are so critical to the field."
Specifically, UNT's program includes several courses that teach students about enterprise resource planning software, which helps companies interpret data from many aspects of their business.
"UNT is one of the few universities that offers a full course on enterprise resource planning software in the context of supply chain management. We like to see that, as an enterprise resource planning platform is the backbone of any global supply chain operation," Burnson said.
Terrance Pohlen, associate professor of logistics and director of several logistics-based organizations at UNT, said that a company's supply chain may create "millions upon millions" of transactions in a single day. Companies must use different technologies to understand the information that comes from these transactions in order to make the best possible decisions.
"A few years ago, the logistics department faculty felt that if we are going to give our students a competitive advantage in terms of job placement, the students need to understand the different technology platforms used in supply chains," Pohlen said. "Many of the logistics and supply chain jobs that involve technology require a sophisticated skillset. If students have that, it makes them more competitive and gets them better jobs."
Pohlen said the Software Advice ranking will help establish UNT as a thought-leader in logistics. This, in turn, will brand UNT as a top university, which will attract recruiters to UNT students.
"That's what we're all about: producing the highest quality student we can," he added. "This is great for students because they are going to get more job offers. As more companies recruit here, we will get more scholarships and opportunities to work with them, which enhances the student's education. It's an upward spiral. These things feed off each other."
About UNT's College of Business
With more than 5,500 students, UNT's College of Business is one of the largest business schools in the nation and has been continuously accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International since 1961.
With 103 full-time faculty members, the college offers 16 undergraduate degrees, 22 master's degrees, seven doctoral programs and 17 certificate programs. Three centers and institutes in the College of Business create synergy among scholarship, research and teaching. Classes take place in the 180,000-square-foot Business Leadership Building, which opened in 2011.
Students enhance their learning experience through student organizations, study abroad programs, internships and the Professional Leadership Program to develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in today's technological and global business environment.