M.Sc. in Strategic Procurement

DCU Business School (DCUBS) offers an innovative Masters programme in Strategic Procurement. The first of its kind in Ireland and one of only two such programmes in Europe, the aim of this programme is to build the capacity for strategic thinking in procurement and to meet the changing skills requirements for professionals either engaged in or working closely with the procurement function. The programme is suitable for both public and private sector employees.

It has been endorsed by the National Public Procurement Policy Unit (NPPPU) in the Department of Finance and the National Procurement Service (NPS) in the Office of Public Works as being a suitable programme to improve the strategic procurement skills of individuals in the public sector.

The programme is ideally suited for international students, due to its delivery by a mix of online learning and block release format and the proximity of DCUBS to an international airport.

Aims and Objectives:

As business organisations are going through rapid external environmental and internal organisational
changes due to increasing globalisation, e-business and outsourcing, increasing attention is being paid to
the issue of how procurement fits within business organisations and how it adds strategic value and contributes to corporate success.

The aims of this programme are to meet these changing skills demands for professionals either engaged in procurement or working closely with the procurement function.

There is a distinct need for senior managers to understand the role of supply chain management
philosophy in the overall business improvement process.

This programme aims to take one area of the
supply chain - procurement - and focus on the role of procurement in the supply chain and, more importantly, on its strategic impact.

The specific objectives of the programme are:

• To introduce students to leading-edge thinking in the area of procurement with a view to adapting it to make it appropriate to the business and organisational contexts in which they operate.
• To develop students who are more strategy oriented and less operationally oriented.
• To develop a knowledge base through both the taught and research elements of the programme, such that students can continue professional development post-qualification.

Programme Structure:

The structure you see below is for the 13/14 academic year. All DCUBS programmes are subject to annual review. Please note that the running of the programme is subject to a minimum enrollment number.

The programme is broken into six themes.

•  Purchasing and Industrial Marketing
•  Economics and Risk Analsyis
•  Quantitative methods for Procurement
•  Organisational Change
•  Strategy and Leadership
•  Strategic Procurement

The programme is offered on a part-time basis over two years, commencing in autumn, and is delivered
by a combination of online modules and block release of two days per month i.e. Friday and Saturday.

The maximum class size will be 25 comprising students from both the public and private sectors. There is the possibility of delivering the program in a more condensed format for organisations who may be interested in developing their procurement functions.

As a requirement of the Masters programme, a research thesis must be delivered by the end of the
second year. This thesis will be based on research conducted over the course of the two years.

Assessment of each of the programme's six integrated thematic units will be by competency test, continuous assessment (including project work), terminal examination, or a combination of these elements.

The nature of assessment and the percentage of marks allocated to the various elements of the assessment will depend on the unit.

• This programme is one of kind in Ireland and one of only two in Europe.
• Procurement is moving up the value chain in terms of business responsibility and dependency, and this programme provides essential strategic insights.
• Offers procurement professionals the opportunity to develop their procurement knowledge and skills further.
• The MBS has the potential to open up entirely new perspectives and understanding of strategic procurement, its related disciplines and the business environment in which it operates.
• This programme marries the academic with the practical on-the-job experiences that are critical for the continued development of the procurement profession in Ireland and the individual's own personal development.
• This programme is ideally suited to international students

Career Prospects:

This programme has been endorsed by the National Public Procurement Policy Unit in the Department of Finance as being suitable to improve the strategic procurement skills of public and private sector workers.

Graduates of the MBS in Strategic Procurement will be eligible to apply for full membership of The Procurement and Supply Management Institute (IIPMM).

Entry Requirements:

This course is not running in 2014/2015. No applications are being accepted.

The potential participants will be professionals seeking further development in the area of procurement or graduates of other disciplines who are seeking to move into the area.

The following will be eligible to apply for the programme:

Those who hold an honors degree (in any discipline) Those who hold other qualifications (including professional qualifications)

Applicants will be expected to have at least three years' experience in the broad area of procurement or supply chain / operations management (including areas such as buyer, contract management, and supply chain management) or extensive experience of procurement issues.Applicants must also be in a position to undertake and implement project-based assignments within their work Selection of applicants may include an interview.