The project identifies key competencies in Supply Chain Management, preparing students and professionals to manage complex supply chains in dynamic and digitised environments
In an increasingly unstable and interconnected world, effective supply chain management is crucial for ensuring resilience, operational continuity and economic sustainability. The repercussions of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine on costs, efficiency, and management complexity have highlighted the vulnerability of supply chains. At the same time, new European regulations and market pressures are driving a shift towards more sustainable and responsible models.
In response to these challenges, the PARASOLS project - Promoting Advanced Resilience and Sustainability Skills for Optimised Logistics and Supply Chain Management has been launched. This international Erasmus+ project is dedicated to developing the Supply Chain Management skills of tomorrow. The initiative aims to create an innovative and practical training model that aligns with the needs of the labour market.
The project, the kick-off meeting for which took place in Dortmund on 10 March, involves the Department of Industrial Engineering at the Politecnico di Milano and a consortium of European universities: TU Dortmund University, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences and the University of Economics in Bratislava.
PARASOLS focuses on four key areas: supply chain resilience; applied digital technologies; sustainability; and supply chain collaboration to optimise working capital. The aim is to prepare students and future professionals for dynamic environments by equipping them with the analytical, digital and strategic skills increasingly demanded by businesses.
In this new landscape, supply chain managers must oversee complex flows of materials, information and financial resources, integrating advanced digital tools such as forecasting models and artificial intelligence applications. At the same time, the growing importance of sustainable and supply chain finance necessitates the ability to integrate operational decisions with financial choices.
Methodologically, PARASOLS combines a review of scientific literature, labour market analysis and benchmarking of existing training programmes. These results will be validated through interviews and workshops with academics and professionals, with the aim of identifying key competencies and best practices in the sector.