Supply Chain & Logistics
Career Pathways
Workplace Practicum in Supply Chain and Logistics
Workplace practicum placements enable students to develop professionally, to learn from practical experience, and to contribute to working environments with partner companies in supply-chain management roles. The workplace experience prepares students for professional employment upon graduation from the Certificate in Supply Chain and Logistics program.
Work placements are unpaid positions of 8-10 weeks with up to 20 hours per week spent at an employer’s facility under supervision. Practicum students work alongside experienced industry professionals on the theory, principles, and practices required to perform skilled tasks within an organization.
To be enrolled in the practicum course, students need to successfully complete pre-requisite courses in the Short Certificate in Supply Chain and Logistics program. Students must also contact the program coordinator with a request to enter the practicum course at least two semesters before the start of the placement.
Practicum placements start in January, May, and September at the beginning of the respective terms.
What can students expect from their workplace practicum
- Gain hands-on experience in different roles within their study field.
- Work closely with supervisors, mentors, and industry professionals in a real workplace environment.
- Learn about organizational practices, processes, tools, and workplace expectations.
- Build career interests, and professional skills for future employment opportunities.
- Contribute to workplace projects through research, analysis, process improvement, problem-solving, and presenting recommendations or findings.
- Enhance Supply Chain & Logistics industry-related skills and reflect on work experience during and after the placement
Examples of practicum areas
- Freight and shipping/receiving dispatch
- Import/Export
- Logistics, materials management, and production
- Purchasing
- Warehouse management and supervision
- Inventory planning
Practicum Partners
If your organization is interested in becoming a practicum host for students, or if you’d like to find out more information, please contact the program coordinator at sclplacement [at] langara.ca (sclplacement[at]langara[dot]ca)
Student Testimonials
The practicum was a great opportunity to apply what I learned throughout the course, as well as develop the soft and hard skills needed to hit the ground running after graduation. It gave me the confidence to land a job in my field of study and I could not be happier with the outcomes. Today, I am a Supply Chain Coordinator, coordinating inventory, procurement, and various side projects. I highly recommend taking the practicum as it builds your network, strengthens your critical thinking, and gives you a great head start in your new career.
Three months after graduation, I am a full-time Logistics Coordinator at a large importing and exporting company in Canada. I am very satisfied with my current employment since I am receiving a competitive salary and benefits – all of which would not have been possible without my experience at Langara College.
Considering the interests and needs of the student is essential for the successful completion of an effective work practicum. From my personal experience, I found the preparatory activities for the school practicum, such as self-assessment on various supply chain foundational attributes, integrative and functional competencies, extremely helpful. This specific exercise allowed me to determine the supply chain field or function that interests me the most.
