Rethinking Purchasing and Supply Management Education for Sustainability and Innovation Challenges: Crafting a Future-Ready Competency-based Curriculum Design

RETHINKING PURCHASING AND SUPPLY MANAGEMENT EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION CHALLENGES: CRAFTING A FUTURE-READY COMPETENCY-BASED CURRICULUM DESIGN

Klaas Stek, Katia Picaud-Bello, Volker Koch and Thomas Johnsen

About the main author

Dr Klaas Stek combines an assistant professorship in purchasing and supply management with a trailblazer role in establishing EL-IPS, the European Lab for Innovative Purchasing and Supply at the University of Twente (UT) in the Netherlands. Coordinating a master course, Purchasing Management, at the University of Twente for Industrial Engineering Management students, he combines a mix of cognitive and non-cognitive learning objectives in his classes; for instance, he formalised creativity and inventiveness and added appropriate didactics and assessment tools.

Abstract
This article addresses the urgent need to transform purchasing and supply management (PSM) education to meet sustainability and innovation challenges. It presents a competency-based curriculum designed to equip professionals with future-ready skills essential for navigating the evolving supply chain landscape. The rationale for this research consists of a mix of:
Evolving demands: Sustainability and innovation are reshaping PSM, making traditional education models obsolete. PSM professionals must implement environmentally responsible practices to meet global expectations. Moreover, they must master emerging technologies and innovative strategies critical for competitive advantage.
Competency Gaps: Current education inadequately aligns with industry requirements, necessitating a redesigned curriculum. This gap can be bridged by establishing industry partnerships to ensure relevance, providing students with practical insights and real-world experience. Preparing graduates to lead sustainable, innovative initiatives is vital for addressing industry evolution.
Holistic skills development: Graduates should develop competencies like creativity, strategic thinking, leadership, communication, and ethical decision-making for navigating complex challenges.

A new curriculum design
The global emphasis on sustainability and innovation necessitates a paradigm shift in PSM education. Traditional models focused on cost and efficiency fail to address modern complexities, underscoring the need for a dynamic, competency-focused approach. A central feature of the article is a robust competency framework integrating key abilities such as strategic thinking, ethical decision-making, and technological proficiency. This framework adapts to evolving industry demands, ensuring graduates remain relevant. The modular curriculum blends core PSM topics with specialized sustainability and innovation modules, providing a comprehensive foundation while addressing contemporary challenges.

Collaboration with industry ensures the curriculum remains relevant and equips students with practical experience. Industry partnerships enhance student learning through real-world insights and experiential opportunities. In addition to technical skills, the curriculum prioritises soft skills like leadership, communication, and teamwork. Experiential learning, including internships and project-based assignments, reinforces these competencies.

The study proposes to offer the students a balanced set of competencies, consisting of knowledge (know-what) and theory (know-why), professional and interpersonal skills (know-how or, in French, savoir-faire) and intrapersonal attitudes (savoir-être or self-knowledge). These different learning objectives should be taught differently. Real-world case studies demonstrate the implementation and benefits of the competency-based approach, providing actionable insights for educators and industry practitioners. In these cases, students can apply the acquired knowledge, skills and attitudes (KSA).

Educators gain a roadmap for future-ready PSM curricula offering KSA, while practitioners see the importance of continuous learning to foster sustainable and innovative practices. The approach aims to produce graduates adept in both traditional and emerging PSM challenges. We call for a collective effort to overhaul PSM education, preparing professionals to lead in sustainability and innovation. 

Additional/further reading

·       Link to the article (open access): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pursup.2024.100974

·       LinkedIn: Click this link

·       Website: https://www.utwente.nl/en/bms/el-ips/