International Logistics

Profession

The international logistics specialist is one of the oldest professions which emerged with the origin of international trade. Thousands of years ago, only the most expensive goods were transported from a continent to another: silk, gold and silver, spices, precious stones, porcelain and medicine. The very fact that an item was brought from a distance provided it with a high status and a romantic halo of mystery. Ancient experts in international logistics knew that the sea route was faster, cheaper and safer than shipping by land, and that it circumvented insecure areas. However, shipping by sea also carried great risks: people, ships and cargo were lost on the way so often that if they were mentioned at all, it was only with the short note: “Missing with all crew”. Nowadays, with advances in technology, the most common cargoes cover enormous distances with only a slight increase in price, the expediency of transcontinental delivery of cheap goods does not seem to be a big deal.
With the development of transport and transport infrastructure, international logistics specialists are faced with optimising the time and cost of transporting goods; constructing a supply chain; selecting the optimal delivery scheme, carrier and other contractors; organising warehousing and procurement logistics; managing the transport and logistics activities of a company as a whole; and dealing with customs authorities.
At present, the demand for international logistics specialists in the labour market far exceeds the supply, which leads to high salaries even in entry-level positions.

Educational Process

The programme consists of a balanced set of courses. The course “International Logistics” provides in-depth knowledge of international logistics. “International Transport Logistics” course is aimed at studying the theoretical basics and gaining scientific and practical knowledge in the field of international transport logistics, including knowledge of the trends of its development and of the mechanisms of organisation of cargo transportation by different means of transport in international communication.
The course “Transport and Logistics Support of Foreign Economic Activity” is aimed at providing students with knowledge in transport and logistics operations in international economic relations; analysis of the international market of transport and logistics services; international transport and logistics infrastructure; management of transport and logistics infrastructure of Russia in international significance; the role of transport and logistics centres and international transport corridors in supporting foreign trade.
The course “Transport and Logistics Management” is aimed at providing students with in-depth knowledge of the organisation and implementation of foreign trade transport operations, which is an important part of the complex activities of any enterprise involved in FEA. Within the framework of the course the student obtains practical skills of transport and logistics management activities; reveals and analyses commercial and organisational features of international logistics system functioning, its influence on economic efficiency of company activities; works with Incoterms 2020 as basis for construction and management of company transport and logistics activities; easily and quickly orientates in HS codes; develops rational schemes of foreign trade cargo transportation.
The most important part of international logistics is building an international procurement logistics system, with which the student gets acquainted through the course “International Procurement Logistics”, gaining science-based practical skills in this area.
An equally important part of a company operations is warehousing logistics, with which the student gets acquainted through the course “Warehousing Logistics and Inventory Management”.
These six basic courses provide a comprehensive package of knowledge about international logistics and the organisation of a company international logistics operations.
Further courses aim to broaden and deepen the professional competencies of an international logistics specialist.
Working with customs authorities is the most important part of the activity of an international logistics specialist, which requires special knowledge and skills, that students get within the framework of such courses as “Trade Policy and Instruments of Customs-Tariff Regulation”, “Foreign Trade Contract”, “International Commercial Operations”, “Transport Policy of International Integration Associations”, “Basics of International Transport Law”. Students of the “International Logistics” programme have a unique opportunity to deepen their knowledge of international law and obtain a professional retraining diploma of RUDN Law Institute specialising in “International Law”.
The programme provides students with the skills to assess the appropriateness of a supply chain or international purchasing system, the appropriateness of contract terms, etc., via the courses “International Corporate Marketing Strategies” and “International Commerce: Trade Transaction Effectiveness”.
Under the conditions of digitalisation of the world economy and, as a consequence, international logistics, the knowledge of the implementation and use of digital products becomes particularly relevant and is acquired through the courses “World Experience in the Implementation of Management Information Systems” and “Information Systems in International Logistics”.
The international logistics specialist always collaborates with international trade specialists in practical terms. The basics of the analysis of world market conditions, including the world logistics market and current trends in world trade in general, are essential for productive work. The programme trainees acquire this knowledge via the courses “International Trade” and “World Market Conjuncture for Goods and Services”.
Negotiation and decision-making skills are the most important ones to be gained in the field of international logistics. This knowledge and skills are gained through such courses as “Theory and Practice of International Business Communication” and “Smart Support Systems of Managerial Decision-Making”. Working in the field of international logistics involves visiting a large number of countries, recruiting staff, etc. Practical knowledge in this field is acquired by the students through the course “International Labour Market and International Migration”. Within the implementation of the programme, practice-oriented master classes in international logistics are separately allocated in the schedule.

Practice

Students studying in the International Logistics programme have two types of internships: research paper internship and pre-graduation internship. The research paper internship includes participation of students in Russian and international conferences, business games, round tables, Olympiads. In the programme, master classes are arranged for students by representatives of leading Russian companies. Master-classes on sustainable development are held by Sibur's Director for Sustainable Development, M.K. Remchukov, lectures on “Organisation of International Procurement” are conducted by I.O. Khabarov, Senior Manager of Procurement Management for Foreign Oil and Gas Production Organisations of PJSC LUKOIL.
The IEO department cooperates with the logistics company AsstrA Associated Traffic AG, which is one of the top 10 logistics providers in Europe in terms of turnover. The company offers our students both an internship program, as a result of which students can collect the necessary material for the graduate qualification work and gain practical skills, and an internship program. Internship programmes at AsstrA allow young specialists to gain professional knowledge and gain invaluable work experience in an international logistics company. Our students can undertake an internship with FM Logistic, which provides a full range of supply chain management services. Students in the International Logistics field can undertake an internship in the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), the Russian Export Centre, X5 Retail Group, DHL Logistics, Fesco Transportation Group, Business Line, Domodedovo airport in Moscow. The company is also a partner of the Lomonosov Moscow Airport, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation and other logistics companies.

Career

The specialist in the field of international logistics is a participant in international trade, who develops and provides a resource-efficient algorithm of foreign economic activity of enterprises. His knowledge is applicable in any field of international business: in the management of logistics business processes, in the performance of trade operations of an international nature, in the organisation of foreign economic activities.
Occupations: Purchaser, Trade and Transport Manager, Freight and Transport Management Engineer, Air Specialist, Sea Freight Specialist, Operations Logistician, Transport Planner, Customs Broker, Freight Forwarder, Cargo Forwarder, Inventory Management Specialist, International Purchaser.
Major companies in which an international logistics specialist can make full use of owned knowledge and skills: DHL Logistics, JSC Russian Railways; JSC First Freight Company, FSUE Russian Post, Business Line, Fesco Transport Group, Globaltrans, JSC Sovfracht, Global Ports, Aeroflot Group, X5 Retail Group.