Not everyone is able to give up work to study further, which is why distance learning is a great alternative for companies wishing to empower staff through encouraging further studies. Simon Foulds speaks to academic head of the ILSCM, Mario Landman, to find what suggestions he has for those wishing to further their careers through distance learning.

One of the biggest challenges associated with distance learning is just that, distance. Realising this, the Institute of Logistics and Supply Chain Management (ILSCM) – a division of the Open Learning Group (OLG) – has identified the potential pitfalls associated with this form of learning and established a variety of mechanisms to ‘mind the gap’ so to speak.

A key driver of this integrated approach is the formation of an academic arm which feeds relevant insight and understanding about the market into the content and structure of the various programmes that the ILSCM provides. This ensures that it maintains proactive management of the developments and changing training needs within the industry.

Says Landman: “This academic approach is a core aspect of the ILSCM’s student support function, driven by the ultimate aim of shortening the distance between learning and learner.”

“The main motivation for the formation of our academic leg was that by becoming a fully fledged academic institution we would gain credibility within the market place and it is now one of our biggest differentiators within the distance learning market.”

“Corporate industry requires support with relevant industry and academic research.  Our client support with such research also directs our strategies for capacity and methodology planning.  This forms the basis of an operational structure that is governed on an ethical basis.”

OLG’s academic board currently oversees academic quality supported by various specialised academic sub-committees. The primary components of service delivery, teaching and learning, programme and curriculum development and assessment is governed and monitored by sub-committees that include an industry advisory board.

It was market research initially performed by the academic board which led OLG to specialise in the logistics industry where a dire skills shortage exists.

A culture of research

The formation of the ILSCM’s academic arm has also seen the formation of a research arm that ensures teaching methodologies and curricula remain relevant and forward thinking.

Landman says: “This stems from our realisation that a common problem within the industry is that academic institutions’ research is not always in touch with what happens in practice/industry.  Our academic board and industry advisory board assist us to move closer to the industry and ensure research is relevant to the market place and is in touch with the issues that they face.”

Through research, the ILSCM aims to provide thought leadership derived from research data, thus contributing to knowledge generation and innovation in the supply chain environment.

The specific research methodologies that the ILSCM engages in to ensure that its curriculum stays relevant and user-friendly, includes continuous programme and institutional research as part of a greater quality audit process which incorporates different data channels; that is,  student surveys, interviews and other channels from students and lecturers.  This is incorporated on an annual basis in a quality improvement plan, which addresses the reviewing of the curriculum.

Overall, the ILSCM views all of its learning programmes and curricula as dynamic and organic, demanding constant attention and refinement. This process never stops and sees the Institute engaged in a constant cycle of customisation that gives it a unique edge within South Africa’s distance learning sector.

Concludes Landman, “By practicing as an academic institution, that fits within a larger institution/corporation and focusses on another core business as a result (administrative and logistics support), the ILSCM is now in a position where we can apply our tests and pilots to our clients and share our market intelligence and best practices all around.”