The Global Logistics Classroom: Advancing Supply Chain Transformation for Generations

In August 2025, students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain and Operations Management embarked on an immersive international module in Germany. Hosted at Kühne Logistics University, the week-long learning experience blended classroom instruction with on-site industry exposure. It offered real-world insights, shaping them into the next generation of supply chain leaders.

The students were accompanied by their Academic Director, Dr. Patriciah Gachambi, Academic Programme Lead, Dr. Mary Aming’a, and International Office Coordinator, Mr. Romuald Ashuza. Alongside the faculty at Kühne Logistics University, they guided students through a transformative learning journey that bridged theory and practice.

Four key lessons emerged from the module:

Synchronisations – Supply chain’s silent power.

At Mercedes-Benz in Bremen, students witnessed firsthand how thousands of suppliers, components, and processes converge with remarkable precision to ensure the assembly line never stops. The experience underscored a crucial insight: synchronisation is the silent engine driving operational excellence.

Supply chains as an engine of competitiveness.

A visit to Airbus in Hamburg offered a compelling lesson in global collaboration. Building an aircraft requires thousands of specialised parts sourced worldwide and months of careful coordination. Here, students learned that the strength of a company’s supply chain directly determines its competitiveness in the global marketplace.

Warehouses as decision centers.

At Jungheinrich, innovation was on full display. Automation, robotics, and digital systems have transformed traditional storage spaces into intelligent, responsive environments. The key takeaway: modern warehouses are not just storage units; they are strategic decision centres that shape the flow of goods and data across the value chain.

Gateways set the pace of trade.

A visit to the Port of Hamburg, one of Europe’s busiest trade hubs, revealed how efficiency at entry and exit points drives entire economies. Students observed the seamless coordination of containers, ships, and trains, discovering that gateway efficiency determines the rhythm of global trade.

This international experience deepened students’ technical knowledge and expanded their appreciation for how logistics, technology, and leadership intersect in shaping global commerce.

The Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain and Operations Management Programme is designed to integrate supply chain, logistics, operations, and digitization. Special emphasis is placed on Production, Logistics, Big Data, Blockchain, Automation, and Artificial Intelligence, and how they will impact supply chain and operations management in the near and far future. The 2026 intake is ongoing!

Article by Dr. Mary Aminga