Supply Chain Student Association announces new branch

The Supply Chain Student Association (SCSA) recently held a meeting to announce the formation of a branch in Pietermaritzburg and also to encourage students to join the association.

SCSA was founded by Supply Chain Management postgraduate students after they realised final year and postgraduate students were often uninformed about what was expected of them in the workplace.

The Association hosts seminars and site visits where students get to interact with industry experts to broaden their knowledge and outlook on how supply chain practices are practically applied. The initiative has been applauded by Professor Betty Mubangizi of the School of Management, IT and Governance.

‘In university there are a lot of associations and clubs but this one is quite unique because it links social aspects within the context of an academic programme,’ said Mubangizi. ‘This means that as students you are aware that having theory is not enough – your objectives are very noble and you have shown leadership which makes us proud as a School.’

Students were addressed by representatives of prospective employers eThekwini Municipality’s Supply Chain Division who discussed human resources and recruitment processes, their work experience programme for graduates and the upcoming eThekwini Youth Employability Indaba and KZN Career Expo where students could interact with KwaZulu-Natals’s captains of industry.

Chairperson of the SCSA Westville campus branch Ms Zolani Mbindwane said they were optimistic about the Association’s growth especially the newly-established Pietermaritzburg branch. ‘This platform has groomed us to be better leaders for the future. As an organisation we can only recruit a few candidates out of the thousands of UKZN students but we do hope that you will join us and help us make this organisation grow,’ said Mbindwane.

Supply Chain lecturer MS Nomalizo Dyili said it was inspiring to see students take charge and responsibility for their education.

‘The Association is a think tank for students founded after the realisation that there are gaps between university education and the world of work. Although it was started with the assistance of academics, students have been driving it from day one and we encourage you to be part of it,’ said Dyili.

By Thandiwe Jumo

Source University of KwaZulu-Natal