º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Business School joins Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to launch global centre and joint master’s degree

Eric Grimson delivering a speech at the UK Supply Chain Excellence Centre launch event.

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ has partnered with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Centre for Transportation and Logistics (MIT CTL) to be the first UK member of its Global Supply Chain and Logistics Excellence (SCALE) Network.

Representatives from º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ and MIT signing an official partnership agreement.
Representatives from º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ and MIT signing the official partnership agreement. (L-R) Professor Rachel Thomson, Professor Eric Grimson, Professor Yossi Sheffi, Professor Nick Jennings and Professor Jan Godsell.

The union will offer an exclusive master's degree programme for hundreds of students each year, with time divided between both º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ and Massachusetts in the United States.

The centre itself will focus on research and working with industry, and will join the established SCALE Network which is already operating around the world in countries such as Spain, Luxembourg, China and Colombia.

Professor Jan Godsell, Dean of º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Business School, said: “The UK is a small island so we have to think very carefully about how we ensure everybody in our country has access to the things that they need, when they need them, at a price that they can afford.

"The centre will be the go-to place to develop the next generation of supply chain talent.

"We're bringing our expertise, particularly around the circular economy and also digitisation – and at its core is a flagship MSc programme in supply chain, which involves time in Boston at MIT and an MIT certificate as well as a º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ degree.”

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Nick Jennings added: “Our partnership with MIT CTL really helps put us on a global stage - it's a great partnership with a world-class university.”

The endeavour marks a significant expansion of the network, an international alliance of leading research and education centres dedicated to driving supply chain and logistics innovation through global collaboration.

With the inclusion of º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ, the MIT Global SCALE Network now comprises six Centres of Excellence across four continents. These centres pool their expertise and collaborate on research projects that address real-world supply chain and logistics challenges, helping companies worldwide navigate an increasingly complex business environment.

“º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s exceptional research capabilities and commitment to supply chain innovation make it a valuable addition to the MIT Global SCALE Network,” said Professor Yossi Sheffi, Director of MIT CTL. “Their expertise will enhance our collective ability to create cutting-edge solutions and educate the next generation of supply chain leaders.”

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ will join the network alongside existing centres: MIT CTL, the Zaragoza Logistics Center (ZLC, Spain), the Center for Latin-American Logistics Innovation (CLI, Colombia), the Luxembourg Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain Management (LCL), and the Ningbo China Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (NISCI).

The four university centres (MIT, ZLC, LCL, and NISCI) offer their own master’s programmes, while CLI offers a Graduate Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (GCLOG). Together, these centres offer a comprehensive curriculum in supply chain management, fostering a global community of bold thinkers from both industry and academia.

“Joining the MIT Global SCALE Network is a tremendous opportunity for º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ,” said Professor Ken Lee, Director of Postgraduate Studies at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Business School. “I am particularly excited at the opportunity for our students to experience the unique MIT culture and interact with inspiring faculty and research during their time in Boston.“

The MIT Global SCALE Network was established in 2003 with the inauguration of the Zaragoza Logistics Center in Spain. Since then, it has expanded to include centres in Colombia, Luxembourg, China, and now the United Kingdom. The network supports over a dozen educational programs, engages more than 80 researchers and faculty, partners with 150 corporations, and boasts an alumni network of over 1,200 professionals worldwide.

Organisations partnering with the MIT Global SCALE Network gain unparalleled access to expertise, innovative research, and a unique forum for knowledge exchange, while the network’s centres and students benefit from rich industry engagement and collaborative opportunities.

For more information, please visit the MIT Global SCALE Network website.