Sustainable Supply Chain Management online short course
Build the knowledge and practical skills to design and transform resilient, responsible and future-fit supply chains.
The University of Cambridge Sustainable Supply Chain Management online short course takes a deep dive into the environmental, social, and technological facets of supply chain management to help organisations build resilient and adaptive value chains in an increasingly volatile and disrupted global environment.
Through this course, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the industry's latest developments and disruptive changes, enabling them to respond strategically to these shifts, optimise logistics and procurement and embed sustainability, circularity, and business model innovation into core business processes. Furthermore, the course includes a deep dive into the impact of value chain activities across interconnected environmental, social, and economic systems. With particular relevance to industry and manufacturing, the course also explores how these challenges and opportunities extend across interconnected sectors and global systems.
| Course start date: | 7 October 2026 and 3 February 2027 |
|---|---|
| Format: | Online, tutor-led |
| Duration: | 8 weeks (+1 week orientation) |
| Time commitment: | 7-10 hours per week |
Is the Supply Chain Management course for you?
This supply chain management online course caters to professionals who want to develop their capabilities and adapt their organisation’s value chain strategies in response to accelerating global sustainability and market shifts. It can be advantageous for management members who wish to understand how to integrate agile and resilient approaches into their supply chains to benefit their firms, whether they have experience in logistics and supply chain management or are just interested in upgrading their skills.
Additionally, this course is pertinent to sustainability experts, supply chain managers, strategic professionals, consultants, and individuals employed in logistics and inventory management roles.
This course can provide a forward-looking perspective on how roles in these areas are evolving, supporting professionals who are looking to deepen their expertise or transition into more strategic supply chain and value chain role.
Sustainable Supply Chain Management
Module 1: Supply chain systems and global impact
Module 2: Risk, regulation and resilience in global supply chains
Module 3: Supply chain value, impacts and dependencies
Module 4: Designing circular and resilient supply chains
Module 5: Data, analytics, traceability and supply chain performance
Module 6: Technology and innovation for future-fit supply chains
Module 7: Collaboration and partnerships for supply chain resilience
Module 8: Leading supply chain transformation
What will set you apart
On completion of this course, you’ll walk away with:
- Deepen your understanding of technological trends and the role of technology in transforming and integrating supply chains to improve transparency and resilience
- The knowledge and foresight to manage the risks of operating in volatile, uncertain, and complex environments to create resilient and sustainable supply chains.
- A deeper understanding of global supply chains, and how to leverage sustainability and long-term value creation within your own supply chain to improve your organisation's commercial success and long-term resilience.
- An understanding of how circular economy principles and business model innovation can unlock new forms of value across supply chains and networks
- Access to the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) alumni network.
- Unlimited access to edX’s Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.
Course Convenors
The design of this online course is guided by CISL faculty and industry experts who will share their experience and in-depth subject knowledge with you throughout the course.
- Martin Roberts- Sustainability and education specialist and former Director of Digital Learning, University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
- Ian Ellison- Senior Associate, the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
CISL Connect: Online live sessions
CISL has developed three bonus CISL Connect: Online Live Sessions for all students joining any of our ten business sustainability leadership courses. Through these sessions, you’ll get direct access to CISL's leading voices on today’s most urgent business topics – competitiveness, AI and resilience. This format gives you the chance to connect, collaborate and exchange ideas with a far broader global network of professionals beyond your cohort.
CPD Certified
This course is certified by the United Kingdom CPD Certification Service and may be applicable to individuals who are members of or associated with UK-based professional bodies. The course has an estimated 80 hours of learning.
Note: should you wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is upon you. CISL and GetSmarter accept no responsibility and cannot be held responsible for the claiming or validation of hours or points.
Accredited by the International Supply Chain Education Alliance (ISCEA)
CISL’s Sustainable Supply Chain Management course, accredited by ISCEA, builds globally recognised skills in sustainable supply chains, offers industry networking, and provides discounted access to ISCEA’s CSSCP certification to support career growth.
Please note that GetSmarter and CISL bear no responsibility for the claiming of these benefits with ISCEA. The onus, therefore, falls on you to do so.
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Delivered in Collaboration with GetSmarter
The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) is collaborating with digital education provider GetSmarter, a brand of 2U, Inc., to provide an interactive and supported online learning experience.
