BA (Hons) in Procurement and Supply Chain Management
Course Overview
Equip yourself with the skillset required to operate in the rapidly evolving procurement and supply chain sector.
Highly skilled business professionals play a pivotal role in driving the shift toward a climate-neutral, nature-positive, and socially inclusive economy. Procurement and supply chain experts are at the forefront, spearheading the development of sustainable businesses for the future.
Enrol in this dynamic course to nurture the next generation of visionary business leaders.
Why choose Procurement and Supply Chain Management at Griffith College?
- CIPS-accredited program.
- Develop technical and interpersonal skills, including digital and numerical literacy, commercial acumen, critical thinking, teamwork, time management, and presentation prowess.
- Gain the knowledge and competencies needed for diverse career paths within procurement and supply chain management.
- Benefit from flexible part-time and blended delivery options.
- Explore elective modules in your final year/award stage to tailor your career path.
- Further your career or postgraduate study options with a choice of elective modules in the final year/award stage.
- Continue with a PgDip or MSc in Procurement and Supply Chain Management at Griffith College.
Intake Dates
Course Details
Stage One
The Business Accounting module introduces learners to the basic theoretical and practical accounting concepts and explains how they apply to business entities. It highlights the importance of costs and the drivers of costs in the production, analysis and use of information for decision making in organisations. Learners analyse financial information on costs, volumes and prices and appreciate how such information is used to make decisions on products and services. Learners also perform basic analysis of simple financial statements.
This module explores economics, highlighting key concepts in microeconomics (market economics) and macroeconomics (global trade). In microeconomics, it covers supply and demand, market structures, competition, regulation, and their impact on procurement and supply chain strategies. In macroeconomics, it delves into global and regional economies, economic cycles, global trade dynamics, and essential international macroeconomic indicators and data sets.
This module helps learners grasp the core principles of marketing and how they fit into today's organizations. It emphasizes understanding customers and aligning marketing activities to create value. Real-world case studies and examples provide a practical perspective on marketing within organisations.
This module offers learners a thorough exploration of communication's diverse roles in organizational settings. It equips learners with valuable skills and insights into human communication, enhancing their ability to collaborate effectively. Additionally, learners gain an understanding of the nuances of intercultural communication and diversity within today's Irish business landscape.
This module delves into the evolving significance of purchasing and procurement in organizations. It underscores their direct impact on bottom-line profitability by enhancing net revenue, in contrast to marketing's effects on cost. This shift reflects their growing importance as they transition from clerical roles to essential contributors to cost management. Effective and efficient procurement is crucial for optimizing financial performance in organizations of all sizes.
"In today's business landscape, supply chains, not individual companies, are the primary competitors" (Christopher, 1992). Supply chain management (SCM) has gained traction since the late 1950s, but there's no one-size-fits-all definition. This module delves into the origins and evolution of SCM, emphasising how efficiently managed supply chains boost competitiveness and deliver maximum value to customers.
This module readies learners for careers in procurement and supply chain management, applicable across diverse industries and service sectors. It offers a comprehensive understanding of managing an organization's operations and their role in enhancing organizational effectiveness, both at the national and global levels.
This module centers on statistical analysis and data interpretation, which are essential for problem-solving and decision-making. It boosts learners' confidence in mathematics and problem-solving by covering mathematical techniques, data presentation, forecasting, probability, sampling theory, and compounding.
Stage Two
This module thoroughly explores project management and underscores the significance of identifying, assessing, controlling, and managing projects in a business context. It offers learners a comprehensive perspective on managing both people and projects in the business environment. By promoting discussion, appreciation, and application of key project management principles, this module equips graduates with valuable project management knowledge for their future business careers.
This module focuses on essential aspects of financial decision-making for organisations. It covers key areas such as financial management goals, investment evaluation, working capital management, funding sources, sustainable finance principles, and performance assessment.
This module offers business students an introductory overview of the Irish legal system, with a focus on its relevance to business operations. It also touches on European Law. The course emphasizes applying legal knowledge within business structures, concentrating on key legal considerations in Ireland and the EU. Additionally, it highlights the strategic importance of ethics, social responsibility, and corporate citizenship in the business world, addressing ethical dilemmas that managers face.
This module equips learners with the skills and knowledge needed for successful job hunting and workforce entry. It offers a comprehensive view of the various activities involved in securing employment opportunities. Additionally, it enhances learners' personal and professional skills, enabling them to confidently and effectively navigate various interpersonal business functions.
This module comprises two parts.
Part 1: introduces learners to quantitative analysis techniques in logistics and supply chain management, teaching them how to use spreadsheets for modeling supply chain and logistics problems.
Part 2: explores mainstream supply chain information systems, showcasing how information technology enhances supply chain efficiency. It also covers the latest IT used in logistics and supply chain management, emphasizing improved integration and sustainability in control and delivery systems.
This module teaches learners the importance of relationship management in business, focusing on interactions with both suppliers and internal customers. Strong relationships are vital for business success, as they impact processes, profitability, and jobs. Procurement professionals play a key role in managing these relationships. Effective supply chain management hinges on cooperative and trust-based relationships among interconnected organisations, ensuring successful market-driven strategies and open communication.
This module delves into the global dynamics of trade, transport, and distribution, highlighting the evolving complexities of supply chain management in an interconnected world. Learners develop insights into international trading structures, strategic thinking, and practical knowledge of the global marketplace, trade dynamics, key agreements, and transport routes.
Additionally, the module hones crucial professional competencies and soft skills such as teamwork, communication, and IT proficiency.
This module advances learners' procurement skills, emphasizing strategic supply chain management to address complex global challenges. Building on stage 1 Purchasing and Procurement, it fosters advanced strategies for supply/demand alignment, risk management, and optimizing supply markets for organisational success.
This module focuses on enhancing negotiation skills for purchasing professionals. It equips learners with the resources and tactics needed for effective negotiations. By discussing and assessing tools for a strategic approach, it enables professionals to prepare for negotiations by evaluating opponents and stakeholders, considering cultural differences, personality traits, and game theory applications.
Award Stage
This module delves into fundamental concepts and frameworks of strategic management, emphasizing their impact on an organization's long-term performance. It covers strategic positioning, decision-making, and strategy implementation. Learners take an interdisciplinary approach, expanding their understanding of various environments, including the organisation, industry, and broader macro contexts.
This module offers learners insights into legal, theoretical, and practical aspects of corporate governance, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) risks, and ethics. It explores these concepts within specific case studies. The module also examines the distinctions between rules-based, principles-based, and hybrid corporate governance models worldwide. Additionally, it addresses the ethical, social, and environmental obligations of businesses and their effects on risk, reputation, and overall success.
The aim of the dissertation is to develop the learners’ general ability to undertake independent research. The module requires the identification of a research question and problem definition, a literature review, primary and secondary data collection, analysis and reporting of findings.
This module enhances learners' grasp of sustainability, including corporate social responsibility, covering supply chain's societal impact, environmental procurement, ethical trade, and labour standards. It underscores aligning sustainability goals in the supply chain, both locally and globally, and cultivating organisational commitment and practices.
This module presents essential concepts and frameworks for innovation in the context of strategic supply management. It focuses on the rapidly evolving ecosystem and its direct influence on critical factors for strategic supply chain management. The module evaluates current models and frameworks, illustrating how they impact and shape future decisions for an organization's sustainable growth. By examining innovation, it explores potential strategies and optimal decision points for using innovation as a competitive advantage in business.
This module helps learners understand demand and inventory management, which improves how organizations work efficiently and stay competitive. It looks at the challenges and opportunities in online commerce and just-in-time models, along with how Brexit affects Irish warehousing and distribution. It also builds skills for the professional world and emphasizes teamwork, communication, and IT skills.
This module teaches learners the theoretical principles of trade compliance and customs regulations in international trade. It covers rules governing the movement of goods and services globally.
Learners gain an understanding of current international trade regulations, focusing on challenges and opportunities in ensuring smooth goods and services delivery. The module also explores ethical responsibilities in corporate social responsibility and their impact on a company's reputation and success.
This module offers learners a solid understanding of public sector procurement principles. It covers the various procurement procedures outlined in the EU Procurement Directives in detail. Learners are introduced to case law and competition law and their relevance to public procurement. The module also explains the transformation of public procurement from an administrative task to a strategic function crucial for financing government policies over the past 25 years.
The module enhances learners' knowledge, understanding and skills required to compliantly manage a public procurement project. Learners will gain an appreciation and understanding of the importance of rigorous planning and its impact on the success of the project. Learners will also understand how proper contract and supplier management ensures that value for public money is maximised.
This module explores the changing digital landscape, strategic models, and operational tools in Smart Manufacturing and Supply Chain 4.0. It emphasizes the importance of agility, responsiveness, and exceptional service to meet customer satisfaction. Designed for supply-chain professionals and managers, it equips learners with the methods and tools to enhance supply chain value through technology integration.
This module is aimed at people either working in (or interested in working in) the retail sector and is designed to provide learners with a clear insight and understanding of the wider area of the management of retail in an organisation. Emphasis is placed on key factors such as the scope and role of operations in a retail environment particularly in relation to the integration of supply chain practices into the retail environment.
This module offers learners current insights into human resource practices and policies. It emphasises the significance of aligning people with business processes through effective human resource management. Specifically, the module covers essential HR activities like recruitment, selection, performance, and training, highlighting the need for professionalism. It also addresses the impact of changing employment legislation on the employment relationship and organizations.
This module builds on the concepts and practices introduced in the Human Resource Management module in semester one. This module focuses on the formulation and implementation of a range of learning and talent development practices and strategies that enable organisations to compete in a competitive business environment. The module also explores contemporary trends, issues and initiatives that are changing the way organisations look at the issue of development of talent amongst staff members.
Timetables
Timetables TBC
How to Apply
Entry Requirements
This programme is currently only available to Irish / EU citizens living in Ireland.
The programme is designed for learners who hold a Leaving Certificate, or have an equivalent qualification and/or experience. A learner must obtain a minimum of grade H5 in at least two higher level papers, together with a minimum of four O6/H7 grades in ordinary level subjects, to include mathematics and a language.
The programme is also aimed at mature learners who wish to pursue a career in procurement or supply chain management related functions, and for those who are already working in these areas and want to considerably advance and enhance their procurement or supply chain management knowledge and competences, and/or explore or enhance their careers and opportunities in this area.
Applicants who are over the age of 23 and who do not have the necessary Leaving Certificate entry requirements may apply on the basis of previous work experience and a demonstration of commitment to further education. Applicants are required to meet the Leaving Certificate entry requirements if they are under the age of 23.
This programme also facilitates learners who currently hold an NFQ Level 6 or 7 cognate qualification and wish to achieve a Level 8 qualification in procurement and supply chain management (through appropriate articulation arrangements or the College’s RPL processes).
How to Apply
Applicants under 23 years of age:
Applicants under 23 years of age before the 1st January of the year you want to enter will be required to apply directly to the College. You will be asked to supply a copy of your passport and your Leaving Certificate or equivalent qualification and must meet the minimum grade entry requirements for the programme.
Applicants over 23 years of age (Mature students):
Applicants over 23 years on the 1st of January before the academic year for which they are applying will be asked for a copy of their passport.
Fees
Please note that not all study modes may be offered at all times; for confirmation, refer to the Intake dates on the Overview tab.
Tuition Fees
Study Mode: Full-Time
Dublin: EUR 6,200.00
Study Mode: Part-Time
Dublin: EUR 6,200.00
An Academic Administration Fee of €250 is payable each September at the start of term. For students starting in the January/February term, €125 is payable in February, and then €250 will be payable each September from then onwards.
A 2% Learner Protection Charge is applicable each academic year in addition to the fees quoted. The fees above relate to Year 1 fees only.
Flexible payment options
Students wishing to pay their fees monthly may avail of our direct debit scheme. Please view our Fees information page for more information and assistance.
2% Learner Protection Charge
All QQI accredited programmes of education and training of 3 months or longer duration are covered by arrangements under section 65 (4) of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 whereby, in the event of the provider ceasing to provide the programme for any reason, enrolled learners may transfer to a similar programme at another provider, or, in the event that this is not practicable, the fees most recently paid will be refunded.
Progression
Students may choose to progress onto the MSc in Procurement and Supply Chain Management or the Postgraduate Diploma in Procurement and Supply Chain Management.