ZLC Continues Its Commitment to Excellence in Logistics Education

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Fifty-five Zaragoza Logistics Center (ZLC) master’s and doctoral students received their graduation diplomas today at the University of Zaragoza Auditorium.

ZARAGOZA, 31 May 2013

The MIT Global SCALE Network center in Europe, the Zaragoza Logistics Center, is bestowing degrees on its 9th MIT Zaragoza Master in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (ZLOG) class, its 12th Master in Logistics (MdL) class as well as two doctoral students from 17 different countries on four continents.

The commencement address was offered by Mr Martin Wegner, Vice-President of Research and Development at Deutsche Post DHL Solutions and Innovation who emphasized that: “education is the pillar of successful and innovative organizations, the fabric that holds dynamic and progressive companies together…only the firms that are capable of innovating, changing and adapting to the current environment of constant change will be able to survive”.

Aware of the growing need and demand for professionals who specialize in the supply chain with an international background and who are capable of finding solutions to the challenges of the new global markets, ZLC has been training high-level logistics experts for a decade. Nearly a thousand professionals from all over the world have passed through the ZLC classrooms.

Fifty percent of all ZLC graduates are working for companies in Spain, many of them in Aragon and at PLAZA. Some of these firms include: ARC Internacional, Arcelor Mittal, Bebinter (La Zaragozana), BSH, CAF, Grupo MLN, GM, Grupo Caladero, Grupo Logista, Grupo Logístico Carreras, Grupo SAMCA, Ibercaja, IBM Consulting, Idom, IKEA, Imaginarium, Inditex (ZARA), Lecitrailer, MOVILITAS, Pikolin, PORCELANOSA, SAICA and Siemens. Nevertheless, the impact of ZLC students goes beyond the borders of Aragon. Former ZLC students are designing and managing the supply chains of global companies in more than 50 countries. Some of these firms include: Accenture, Amazon, CAT Logistics, Cummins, Deloitte, DuPont, Hewlett Packard, Home Depot, Johnson & Johnson, Kuehne & Nagel, MSF, McKinsey, Nike, Novo Nordisk, Pepsi, Pfizer, Roche, Samsung, SAP, Shell, Coca-Cola and Vestas, all firms that return year after year to Zaragoza to continue recruiting highly qualified, ZLC-educated professionals. The high employment rate of these graduates, which is around 90% at the time of graduation and 100% in the three following months with very competitive salaries (€77,200 for the ZLOG master’s program) are the best indicators of the quality of these programs.

During the closing ceremony, the President of the ZLC Foundation and Regional Minister of Industry and Innovation, Mr Arturo Aliaga, stated that “logistics is a strategic sector for the Aragonese economy as it represents nearly 5% of the regional GDP with more than 850 firms in almost all of the sectors comprising the supply chain. Moreover, transport is also a key sector when it comes to attracting direct foreign investment to Aragon. Firms that wish to be competitive have to prioritize their supply chains and commit to innovation, training and hiring personnel who specialize in this field. To do so, they have the support of the best center in Europe - the Zaragoza Logistics Center”.

Sarah Robbins-Penniman received the award for the Best Master’s Degree Final Project for her paper on how to improve inventory management in non-emergency humanitarian aid operations. Read abstract.

More information about ZLC

Zaragoza Logistics Center, a University of Zaragoza institute, which relies on the collaboration of the world's leader in the subject, the Center for Transportation and Logistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has been carrying out research and training programs for a decade which contribute to changes in production systems through its R+D+i and, on the other hand, train highly qualified personnel.

Since its creation, Zaragoza Logistics Center has contributed to the industrial expansion and economic diversification of Aragon by providing highly qualified labor and transferring knowledge to companies set up at PLAZA and throughout the region. ZLC has fostered Aragonese innovation through research projects developed alongside Aragon-based firms and institutions such as la Asociación de Industrias de Alimentación de Aragón, ARAGOFAR, Fundación Transpirenaica, Fundear, Grupo Logístico Carreras, SAICA and has participated in European projects aimed at improving regional development such as the SoCool@EU project in collaboration with ITA and the Aragonese logistics cluster ALIA. The latter, which is sponsored by ZLC, groups together transport organizations, R+D centers, the Government of Aragon and some 30 leading sector companies.

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