IIM Mumbai launches logistics courses to meet sector demand

In alignment with the governmentrsquos ambitious push for multimodal logistics IIM Mumbai formerly NITIE is moving into mission mode to meet the sectorrsquos growing need for skilled manpower Over the next five years an estimated 115 crore professionals will be required in logisticsTo address this demand the institute is introducing specialised courses aligned with industry needs and emerging technologiesDesignated by the Ministry of Education as the nodal hub for logistics and supply chain under the National Education Policy NEP IIM Mumbai has been tasked with capacitybuilding to promote the PM Gati Shakti Master Plan To further this initiative IIM Mumbai established the Centre of Excellence in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and the Center for Innovation Incubation amp Entrepreneurship The institute will also manage a portal collaborating with other participating institutes offering courses on this platformA few months ago IIM Mumbai submitted a report titled ldquoFuture Talent Requirements in Logistics a Vision 2047rdquo to the Union Ministry of Education Authored by a panel of experts including Ashish Chauhan CEO and MD NSE Prof S G Deshmukh IIT Delhi Prof Gitakrishnan Ramadurai IIT Madras Peeyush Gupta Tata Steel Ketan Kulkarni Allcargo Logistics Neelesh Mundra McKinsey and Prof Manoj Kumar Tiwari Director IIM Mumbai Convenor the report highlights the need to revise existing curricula It emphasizes incorporating emerging technologies data analytics sustainability and problemsolving to keep pace with changing industry dynamicsA key driver behind this transformation is the rapid adoption of technologies such as Big Data Analytics Digital Twin Blockchain Cloud Logistics IoT Transportation Management Systems TMS selfdriving vehicles ARVR realtime supply chain visibility robotics warehouse automation and drones Government initiatives such as developing 35 multimodal logistics parks and 108 port connectivity projects underscore Indiarsquos strong focus on advancing logistics infrastructureElaborating on the new courses Professor Manoj Tiwari Director of IIM Mumbai noted that the institute is currently offering 14 PM Gati Shakti courses covering areas like data analytics in logistics healthcare and inventory and warehouse automation In addition IIM Mumbai has designed indicative courses that other participating institutes may reference though each institute may also create its own programs tailored to PM Gati Shaktirsquos requirementsProfessor Tiwari said that 225 crore people are currently engaged in logistics across various sectors yet an additional 115 crore is needed by 2030 ldquoWe are on a mission to train people and bridge the gap between industry demand and skilled manpowerrdquo Tiwari said ldquoWe are fasttracking these efforts by developing industrycustomized courses to fulfil the governmentrsquos capacitybuilding mandate and ensure a steady stream of trained professionalsrdquoTo widen access IIM Mumbai is also offering logisticsrelated courses on digital platforms such as SWAYAM and SWAYAM Plus Massive Open Online Courses Seven new courses have already been launched covering AIML in port management warehouse automation supply chain digitization the role of blockchain ecommerce supply chains cybersecurity in supply chains and digital innovation and technology in supply chainsldquoIn order to keep our faculty up to daterdquo Tiwari added ldquowe encourage them to continually upgrade their knowledge They study best practices conduct industry case studies and visit ports warehouses and other industry setups This helps ensure that our courses stay relevant and reflect the latest technological trendsrdquoRecommendations on CurriculumGiven the significant workforce demands in the logistics sector as well as ongoing technological advancements and future industry needs there is a pressing need to revise curricula to integrate handson learning and realworld case studies Specifically it is recommended that institutions introduce an ldquoIntroduction to Logistics and Supply Chainrdquo course for all firstyear engineering students thereby ensuring a foundational understanding of key logistics and transportation componentsTo align with the evolving requirements of the manufacturing logistics and supply chain management industries educational institutions can develop specialized curricula at various levelsFoundational CoursesSupply Chain Management FundamentalsLogistics ManagementAdvanced CoursesProgramming With AI for Problem SolvingDesign Thinking With AIOperations ResearchSupply Chain AnalyticsGlobal Procurement amp Supply ManagementSupply Chain FinanceIn order to prepare students for the increasing demands of digitalization institutions can also offer 15hour or 30hour certification programs online courses via SWAYAM and NPTEL and video lectures covering a broad range of topics such as Multimodal Logistics Road Transport Rail Freight Transport Maritime Transport Air Cargo Shipment ECommerce and QCommerce Omnichannel Commerce Reverse Logistics Return Management Healthcare Logistics AgriFood Supply Chain Cold Supply Chain Emergency Supply Chain Management Metal and Mineral Supply Chain Oil and Gas Supply Chain Semiconductor Supply Chain Warehouse Automation Automotive and Household Sectors Supply Chain for the Energy Sector Space Industry Supply Chain Nuclear Power Plant Supply Chain Military Logistics Spare Parts Supply Chain Generative AI Big Data Analytics Cloud Computing Quantum Computing Internet of Things 6G Technology GeoSpatial Technologies Digital Twin ARVR Control Tower Robotics Autonomous Vehicles DronesSDGs in Supply Chain Management Clean Technology Carbon Footprint Water Footprint 3D PrintingWhile several institutions have introduced logistics courses in response to various Ministry of Education initiatives these efforts remain largely uncoordinated A more streamlined and cohesive approach to curriculum development will ensure a highly skilled workforce ready to meet future logistics challenges and reinforce Indiarsquos growing leadership in the sector the report submitted by IIM Mumbai states