Dive Brief:
- The Smeal College of Business at Pennsylvania State University announced Thursday it would launch the Supply Chain Leadership Academy to try to close the skills gap in talent for supply chain professionals.
- The certificate, offered in partnership with corporate virtual learning platform CorpU, will require students to take three five-week courses in what is being described as an online bootcamp.
- Smeal and CorpU are pitching the program to companies looking to develop internal talent and will focus the course on holistic supply chain management, combining leadership skills with logistical knowledge.
Dive Insight:
CorpU has built its business around offering professional development and skills-training to corporations for their employees, helping to create virtual learning communities and build online courses. The Smeal certificate program specifically targets those already in industry with an alternative credential they can get quickly and on their own time.
This type of credential, where students can get immediately applicable skills-based knowledge, is becoming increasingly popular, and tech companies offering these options are often finding themselves flush with venture capital. It's all part of a changing higher education landscape steadily shifting away from the long-term commitment of a general degree.