BME opposes lack of educational purchasing backgrounds in China
The BME decided to support members with a holistic talent development program. They've got the opportunity to participate in a pilot project.
Who hasn't heard of the mythical Young Talent Gap in China? We have discussed it so often. We might even have become a little tired of hearing about it. And yet...the talent gap is a real and relevant phenomenon - especially in purchasing. According to a McKinsey Global Institute analysis, nine out of ten graduates in China are not ready to work in a multinational environment. Those few that are up-to-speed are highly desired and are free to choose the jobs they find most attractive.
To make matters even more challenging for our BME members, purchasing was a relatively unpopular choice among Chinese students until 2008, especially in comparison with courses such as finance, real estate, and engineering. As a direct consequence, most purchasers in China currently have no specific educational background in purchasing. They lack a fundamental understanding of the complexity and relevance of the purchasing function.
Our approach: The BME has decided to support our members in responding to this challenge by developing a holistic Purchasing Talent Development Program. It is designed to complement the highly theoretical university education with practical skills relevant in day-to-day purchasing.
The program transmits key purchasing knowledge and skills (e.g. spend analysis, negotiation, supplier development, etc.) as well as purchasing-relevant soft and methodical skills that so many Young Talents lack (e.g. communication and conflict management, decision-making, self awareness, etc.). To ensure academic quality, practical relevance and hassle-free program administration, we have partnered with the BME Akademie in Germany and the talent developers from Ecube in Shanghai.
The programme was presented during the Purchasing Manager Meeting in Shanghai in June. It is the first time the BME will run it as an open-course offering, previously having been an exclusively in-house program. You now have the opportunity to participate in a pilot project and have an impact on the final program design. The first program will be limited to a maximum of 20 participants. The spots will be distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis.
The presentation hold during the Purchasing Manager Meeting can be found in the Downloads section.
Please feel free to contact us for further questions.
Photo gallery
10. June 2015
Purchasing Manager Meeting
45 Purchasing Managers took part during the visit at TÜV Rheinland in Shanghai. BME presented the "Smart Logistic Award" and a boot camp for chinese procurement talents.
