The programme is designed for people who wish to develop their careers and are working in manufacturing, transport, wholesale and retail businesses in a capacity that involves managing the supply chain or logistics/transport management.

Logistics management is a relatively new occupational area that has emerged in Russia within the past decade. This specialised programme is based on enhancing supply chain managers' awareness of modern managerial techniques developed in market-economy countries and adapted to the Russian context. Thus, this programme is a response to the growing demand for well-trained logistics specialists to design, manage and improve supply chains. This need is supported by the following general and regional factors:

a) General Factors:

• Future introduction of Russia into the WTO
• Russia's stable economic growth
• Growing attractiveness of the Russian economy for foreign investors
• Large volume of foreign direct investment in Russia's economy

b) Regional Factors:

• The unique geographical position of the Urals Region as a transit territory creating a corridor and influencing cargo flows from Siberia, the Far East and dynamic Asian countries to and from Europe
• The presence of diverse and highly developed metallurgy, machine building and chemical industries
• The large number of trans-national wholesale and retail companies (e.g. IKEA, Metro, Auchan, Obi etc.)
• The continuing international trade relations of the Urals Region with European countries, the Middle East, Asia and America

This programme is a new innovative collaborative development between the UEL School of Business and the USUE Department of Commerce, Marketing, and Logistics. This collaboration has allowed the programme to draw from a Russian-British pool of knowledge, skills and expertise required to effectively deliver this unique programme. The collaboration thus brings together the subject area research excellence of USUE with UEL Business School's experience of delivering postgraduate programmes to individuals, public bodies and corporate clients.

Candidates are normally expected to have a Russian state diploma of Specialist level, or a Bachelors degree (or equivalent). The background may vary although engineering, science or business qualifications are preferable. Candidates without a higher education qualification will be considered provided they have a Russian state diploma of specialised secondary education and can demonstrate two years of industry experience. Candidates will normally be interviewed.

Learning or career experience that occurred prior to entry to the programme and any additional learning occurring during a student's period of registration, equivalent to the modules on the student's programme, may be taken into account through the process of Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL). Credit awarded by another UK or Russian Higher Education institution would therefore be recognised and certified qualifications and experiential learning may be accredited.

The programme is offered in part-time mode over 2 years. Part-time (blocked) delivery will be offered through a series of 6 intensive sessions. The sessions will be timed to run from Thursday afternoon through to Saturday afternoon. The full programme is composed of 4 modules (120 M credits in total). There are no options, all the modules are compulsory.

This programme is taught and assessed in Russian. Our intention is to create an environment which will enable students to develop their proficiency in the acquisition of relevant knowledge and skills, and their commitment to a critical understanding of their own learning and professionalism. A variety of teaching and learning methods will be used ranging from formal lectures supported by smaller group seminars/workshops to web-based learning.

The teaching strategy emphasises an interactive and discursive approach to learning. This is achieved through a reduction in the traditional "chalk and talk" approach and increased use of interactive lectures, analysis and decision-making based upon relevant case studies, practical problems, as well as specific regional or company cases.

Practical classes are focused around problem solving. Simulated games and role-plays involving student participation in analysis and decision-making processes will also be used to encourage the development of analytical skills and strategic decision-making attitudes and abilities. Simulation exercises based on real work problems are utilised to reflect the modern world of the professional manager.

A number of sessions will be held by guest speakers whose practical experience will be used as a basis for discussion and reflection.

The programme hopes to promote independent study and the development of self-management skills. Students are required to undertake set reading on certain topics and explore relevant literature for assignments and seminar discussions. The programme aims to develop an approach to learning which encourages students to "transform" rather than simply to "reproduce" the theories and ideas.

The programme uses a variety of assessment methods to ensure that students can demonstrate the range of leaning outcomes. Subject knowledge and understanding are mainly tested through written exams, individual and group projects, and presentations.

Case studies and projects, including presentations, demonstrate and reveal a more practical problem solving and decision-making ability in the student.
As well as formal assessment, the programme incorporates formative and diagnostic assessments, which allows the staff to provide more feedback on each student's progress and development.

This programme has been designed primarily for those with recent experience of working in or with companies involved in logistics management and transport activities. Projects and assignments will be work-based and oriented towards addressing realistic business and management problems and challenges.

Not applicable at this time, although significant dissertation and project work is a part of the Russian 'Magister' qualification that is not awarded by UEL.
Students will also have to complete some group project work on modules in the programme.

This dual award programme in International Logistics is an innovative new programme in the Urals educational market due to its modular nature and structure. The main source of added value lies in the participants' ability to experience a different approach to knowledge and learning where emphasis is on the acquisition of skills rather than the traditional (for the Russian learning environment) accumulation of knowledge. The efforts of the British and Russian staff that were jointly invested in the design of the programme allow the participant to exploit benefits of both educational systems, and meet the requirements of international educational standards and curriculum.

It is anticipated that students successfully completing the programme will be promoted to higher positions as they will receive unique training in international logistics and supply chain management. The dual award will also enable active involvement of the programme's graduates in inter-regional and international projects. We expect that the qualification will gain national and international recognition and become an established passport to greater opportunities within Russia and internationally.

There will be an induction session at the beginning of the programme which will familiarise students with the aims and objectives of the programme, structure of the programme and module delivery times, Programme Leader and Programme Administrator contact details, key details on the teaching methods and assessment structure of the programme and regulations on the use of library and Internet resources. Students will receive a Student Handbook that provides all the essential information about the programme and the support for learning

The programme will provide consistent and continuing support for students through staff involved in teaching, administration and programme management. Administrative support will include advising students on 'academic housekeeping' and other matters (e.g. assessment deadlines, action in case of illness, etc). The Programme Leader, assisted by the Programme Administrator, will oversee all students enrolled on the programme. Academic support will be provided by the staff associated with the relevant module(s). In addition students will be allocated a Personal Tutor who will monitor their individual progress.

When registered for the programme at USUE, students will simultaneously become UEL students, which will enable them to have access to UEL on-line learning resources and databases. The USUE intranet/learning portal will also be developed to support both staff and students. Given the intermittent nature of block delivery, this facility will be a key mode of communication between staff/student and student/student. It will also allow staff to 'deposit' learning materials on-line, as well as such items as the Student Handbook.

1. Exposure to internationally relevant logistics and supply chain management education
2. Study at a central location in Ekaterinburg with easy access by public transport
3. English language and study skills support where necessary