Auburn, Ala. -- Auburn University’s supply chain program jumped 14 spots in Gartner Inc.’s 2018 Supply Chain University Top 25.
Gartner, a U.S. based research and advisory firm, releases every two years an analysis that weighs program scope and curriculum, internship participation rates, industry recruiter ratings and starting salaries for new graduates.
Gartner, which gathered information on 67 American and Canadian programs along with 3,000 industry professionals, ranked Auburn’s program 17th in 2016.
“This tells us that our hard work and student development focus, as well as our efforts to align with industry needs, are paying off,” said Brian Gibson, Wilson Family Professor of Supply Chain Management in the Harbert College and executive director of Auburn University’s Center for Supply Chain Innovation. “We’ve listened to employers, research center sponsors and industry experts to get feedback on what we need to be teaching and where we need to be headed with our program. The number three ranking is a byproduct of a faculty team that listens to industry partners and aligns course content with the changing dynamics of supply chain management.”
Auburn topped the the survey’s “program scope” category and took third place in the “industry value leaders” category.
Auburn’s program was one of the first nationally to require internships as a requirement for graduation, with 95 percent of supply chain management majors gaining at least 300 hours of experience with internships. This focus on experience and problem-solving sets graduates up with an average starting salary of $57,000 and employment eligibility with Fortune 500 and start-up companies.
“Thanks to this amazing program I am able to gain real world experience by partaking in a 50+ hour work week in my internship. I am thankful that Auburn has been able to prepare me for this challenging summer and a future career in this field,” said Morgan Merrill, Auburn senior supply chain management major.
According to Gartner Research Vice President Dana Stiffler, Auburn was “the biggest mover” and “the upstart in our rankings.”
The use of company projects and the creation of the Center for Supply Chain Innovation, which works closely with leading companies and research of industry trends, also contributed to Auburn’s rise.
“Supply Chain interns must acquire an experience that is considered relevant to our industry partners. Internships are vetted to ensure that they include professional-level activities that develop the skills desired by the industry. Nearly all internships include a supply chain-focused project managed by the intern,” said Marcia Gibson, coordinator of Harbert’s Supply Chain Management Professional Experience program. “Our goal is that each student’s internship will add new tools to their tool belt.”
Stiffer said the Top 25 represents programs that have demonstrated a commitment to “building a better pipeline” with industry.
