Procurement has been widely recognized as the fastest growing profession in Australia these days. As indicated by a current research, more than 50,000 personnels are employed each year in the procurement department of public and private sectors across the country. The research indicates further that about 500 to 1000 new people are required each year for strategic procurement roles. This emerging demand of procurement professionals, however, is in excess of the current supply. And now, the profession is facing a major skills shortage.

According to Jane Montgomery, the Executive Director of the Australian Procurement and Construction Council (APCC), today's procurement activity is not merely a procurement process. It requires an understanding of longer?term economic, social, and environmental trends. Hence, the role of procurement professionals these days plays a strategic part in the achievement of business objectives, and organisations are now strategically aligning the procurement function with their overall organisational effectiveness and objectives..

Currently, there is an estimated annual demand in excess of 5000 for university places in strategic procurement programs across Australia and the number is increasing. In view of this situation, The Australian Technology Network of Universities (ATN), in cooperation with APCC, offers innovative post-graduate programs for professionals who wish to accelerate their technical knowledge and fast-track their career in procurement. ATN itself is an influential alliance of five distinctive, prominent Australian universities located in each mainland state: Queensland University of Technology (QUT); University of Technology, Sydney (UTS); RMIT Melbourne; University of South Australia (UniSA); and Curtin University.

To facilitate the professionals working full time, the program is delivered in a number of formats at the following locations across Australia:

  • UniSA : Master of Management (Integrated Supply Chain Management);
  • UTS : Master of Business in Operations and Supply Chain Management;
  • RMIT: Masters in Logistics & Supply Chain program;
  • QUT: Executive Master of Business (Strategic Procurement);
  • Curtin: Master of Business (Strategic Procurement)

Flexibility is also part of the offer. The ATN will provide full credit transfer for students who move states during their enrolment and wish to substitute courses of their home institution.

Topics covered in the program are market analysis, strategic sourcing, category management, business performance, economic analysis, organisational behaviour, and spend analysis.

It is believed that this initiative will provide a platform for the public and private sectors, ATN, as well as the industry to work together at a national level in delivering university strategic procurement programs.

Australia