Company Announcemnet - SCNext, the  fastest growing young professional supply chain community in the world is  partnering with SAPICS, the country’s leading community of supply chain and  operations management professionals, to see the local chapter of the body  launched in South Africa. Created by and for young professionals, SCNext will  help recruit and equip students for the working world.



“It’s all about bridging  the gap between what students learn in theory and the reality of the world of  work, helping them to make a smooth transition,” says SCNext South Africa’s  President, Ayanda Khumalo. “But, in order to be a success, SCNext will rely  heavily on experienced supply chain professionals and SAPICS members, whom we  call upon to give of their time to mentor supply chain students and young  professionals.”


Raising awareness, campus  to career transition


Based at SAPICS head office, SCNext will establish  student societies at campuses across the country, organising both formal and informal  gatherings where SAPICS mentors will address students on a variety of topics,  from finding a job to guiding them in their career path.
 “Members will also be exposed to what’s happening  internationally as SCNext chapters in other countries host various events aimed  at young professionals,” she says.
 One such event will be the SAPICS SCNext student  conference, to be held in March 2015 in Johannesburg, with smaller gatherings  in Durban and Cape Town. The conference will create an opportunity for raising  awareness about the career paths available in supply chain and operations  management as company representatives meet face-to-face with students.



“There is a  burgeoning community of young supply chain talent that needs to be nurtured and  developed in order to help build the SCM future of the country,” says Khumalo. 
 “SAPICS seems a  natural fit with SCNext in achieving this goal as the youth organisation brings  its expertise and resources from around the globe. These include competitions,  career services, certifications, simulations, foreign exchange opportunities,  start-up capital and more, all aimed towards advancement of the YP community. “



Entry-level supply chain certification 


One such certification that SAPICS will be introducing  next year is the Certified Supply Chain  Analyst. An entry-level, internationally recognised certification, would-be  supply chain professionals will be able to complete the qualification while  still studying.
 “The certification is not just for students but for  anyone with a matric who has an interest in supply chain – no work experience  is necessary. It demonstrates to companies that the graduate has an  understanding of supply chain and is a good basis for entering the field.”
 The certification comprises 2.5 days of workshops,  after which an exam is written.



Getting involved



There are three levels of involvement for those  wishing to connect with SCNext, according to Khumalo. “We’re looking for campus  ambassadors who will help create awareness of both the organisation and SCM,”  says Khumalo. “These are people who don’t want to wait until they start working  to become part of the SCM community.”



In addition to the student members, SCNext will also  welcome Young Professionals. “These are the young guns of supply chain- working  professionals whose experience ranges from recent graduates to 10 years in the  field,” she says. “We look forward to their contribution through ideas and  actions to fulfilling the SCNext vision.”



“Last, but not least, we extend a special request for experienced  mentors who will guide the next generation of leaders in supply chain. These  are veterans in the industry with 10-15 years experience dealing with complex  global supply chains, as well as scholars from leading universities who will  keep members abreast of cutting edge research and technologies.”



“There is an enormous need  to nurture the talent in South Africa and encourage young professionals to  remain patriotic to the country and continent,” she concludes. “And for this  important task we call on experienced SCM mentors to come forward.”