“Revolutionizing Supply Chain Education”: Integrating Industry 4.0 and IOT into University Curriculum: (Opportunities and Challenges)

Affan Al -Kharusi and Mazoon Al-Kalbani

Student

Logistics & Supply Chain management

University Of Technology and Applied Sciences

Muscat, Oman

11s2125882@utas.edu.om; 11s2126038@utas.edu.om

Noor Al Huda Al-Majrafi

Student

Chemical Engineering

Muscat University

Muscat, Oman

210053@muscatuniversity.edu.om

Jowhara Al-Habsi

Lecturer (Supervisor)

University Of Technology and Applied Sciences

Muscat, Oman

Jowhara.alhabsi@utas.edu.om

Abstract

With the emergence of industry 4.0 and the flourishing of IOT, A profound opportunity is set for universities to integrate it within their curriculums. The research aims to evaluate and show-case the beneficial outcomes and the challenges of incorporating industry 4.0 into a university curriculum, particularly in supply chain management, and how this emergence is a step into revolutionizing higher education. The research investigates the merits of interconnecting industry 4.0 tools within classes, the usage of IOT in developing course materials, and how industry 4.0 concepts aligns education with modern workforce requirements. The paper framework is created using: 1) Unstructured interviews with logistics and supply chain lecturers. 2) Questionnaires for lecturers and experts. 3) Real-life case studies. 4) A group guided discussion of opinions to gain collective views of students and lecturers. The Focus of this paper is to propose curriculum enhancements that integrate IoT and industry 4.0 technologies and principles, develop a criteria to assess the effectiveness of the updated curriculum, encourage the integration of IoT and industry concepts across various engineering and technology disciplines, conversely showcasing potential hurdles in the integration process of industry 4.0 with the higher education sector, within the resources, infrastructure, academic qualifications and funding. This academic endeavor will serve as a comprehensive guideline for professionals, academics, and institutions. By presenting a real word application, it will bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and actual implementation, therefore, ensuring the utilization of the most effective strategies in the academic sector.

Keywords

Industry 4.0 Integration, University Curriculum, Supply Chain, Education Development, challenges

Biographies

Affan Al-Kharusi is a second-year student at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Oman. He’s currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in logistics & supply chain management. He holds an international baccalaureate diploma, He’s the founder and president of the first “logistics & supply chain” club at the university. He completed courses in Integrated SCM, operation

management, transportation and distribution, and procurement. He completed a logistics management internship at A'saffa Foods SAOG. He participated in TRANSOM exposition, AVOD exposition, and ASYAD exposition.

Mazoon Al-Kalbani is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in Muscat, Oman. In addition to her academic pursuits, she serves as the CFO of an emerging company, where she seamlessly blends her theoretical knowledge with practical business experience. Her passion for innovation led her to work with the Ministry of Higher Education on the innovative festival held in February 2024, showcasing her ability to manage complex projects. She also participated in the immersive "Skill to Product" course, a dynamic five-day experience. She has also dedicated her time to teaching. She served as a primary teacher for a summer course, where she has not only shared her knowledge but also inspired young minds.

Noor-al huda Al-Majrafi is a third year student at Muscat University, Oman. She attended an international school in Malaysia for two years of secondary education. She is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in the chemical engineering field. She gained experience in the field of engineering and operations through her training at more than one oil company in Oman. She can apply the theoretical concepts gained during her university studies to industrial realities. In addition to her academic pursuits, she was an active member of the University Engineering Club. She devoted her time to studying until she was included in the dean's list of the most academically outstanding students. She also participated in many courses that encourage self-development and improvement, including the ''continuous improvement'' CI course and ''well-being''.

Supervisor

Jowhara Al-Habsi as a lecturer at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences. I have a bachelor’s degree in logistics and supply chain management and MBA from University of North Texas, USA. I have academic experience from 3 different institutions. I am also interested in research. I have published papers such as "Knowledge and Skills Gap of Graduates Entry-Level: Perception of Logistics and Supply Chain Managers in Oman," which has been accepted for publication in the esteemed journal, "Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning" indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. The journal is published by Emerald Publishing Australasia, with an impressive impact factor of 0.327 and ABCD ranking B, and is scheduled to be released in (Scopus) Q2 2023, and “Parcel Logistics Improvement in a National Postal Company," and as the author of “Identification of the benefits of the usage of information technology in managing warehouses in Supply Chain”. I’m currently working on getting admitted for my PHD.

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Mr. Affan Al Kharusi