Faculty from Towson University and North County High School in Anne Arundel County are part of the Baltimore Port Alliance’s Education Outreach Committee, which brings together regional K-12, higher-ed, and industry representatives to support outreach opportunities that connect students with port-related careers.
Earlier this semester, seventeen students from North County High School visited Towson University’s College of Business & Economics to learn more about TU’s business degree programs and how education can be integrated with careers in supply chain management.
The North County students are part of a signature program in International Trade, Transportation, and Tourism, which allows students to earn dual credit for high school and college by completing an 18-credit certificate through Anne Arundel Community College. Upon graduation from high school, the students are awarded the additional college credential and are prepared to enter their career area and/or continue toward a college degree.
TU faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students discussed the benefits of continuing to work toward a bachelor’s degree either directly or by first completing an associate degree through the community college.
I shared my success with starting a supply chain career while completing a community college degree and then moving on to a bachelor’s and master’s, while moving forward in my career. Graduate students Lorrraine Black and Nham Nguyen discussed how their experiences in research and courses are preparing them for their careers.
Undergraduate students Yeabsira Mezgebe and Beza Wondimu talked about how they came to be interested in supply chain careers from talking with their professors and then participating in case competitions where they presented their analysis to industry professionals. Mezgebe and Wondimu were on the team that took first place in the Supply Chain Track during the recent CBE Fall Case Competition.
TU’s bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in project management and business analysis is designed to prepare students to enter global careers that are technology and data driven. The curriculum builds knowledge and skills in highly demanded areas including data analytics, business intelligence, process management, six sigma quality, and project management. Graduates of the program often enter supply chain related careers. As an added bonus, students in the project management and business analysis concentration are eligible to apply to the accelerated BS-MS in supply chain management which fast-tracks the bachelor’s and master’s degrees by allowing students to take up to nine credits of graduate coursework while in their undergraduate program.
The TU students then joined the North County students in a live supply chain simulation where everyone took a role in running a supply chain. Students made decisions and competed as customers, distributors, marketers, manufacturers, and suppliers in an effort to secure the most profit. North County faculty member Erica Holsey commented, “It was so cool to see them work together and get engaged in competition that was fun and friendly.”
“I feel like the whole experience really gave them a path to success for their lives that many of them could actually visualize for themselves, it definitely had an impact on them.”
Erica Holsey, North County faculty member
After the simulation, the North County students stayed for lunch and additional time to connect with the college students.
