Certificate in Procurement Management

Program Overview

The Certificate in Procurement Management from UCC is a 9-month, part-time program designed to enhance procurement skills for professionals in SME, multinational, and public sectors. The program blends theory and practice through five modules covering principles, spend analysis, contract management, KPI reporting, and strategic procurement. Participants benefit from continuous assessment, practical software applications, and a team of experienced practitioners and academic experts.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Certificate in Procurement Management is a part-time, 9-month program designed for professionals in the SME and multinational sectors, as well as the public sector, who seek to enhance their procurement management skills. It is the first university-accredited NFQ Level 8 award in procurement studies.

Objectives:

• To enhance technical, managerial, and people skills, known as the "holy trinity" of procurement competence.
• To provide workplace-targeted continuous assessment and University certification.
• To equip participants with practical software-oriented skills.

Outline:

The Certificate in Procurement Management consists of five core modules, all of which blend theoretical and applied procurement.

Modules:

• MG5823 Principles of Procurement and Tendering: This module covers the fundamentals of procurement, including tendering processes, contract types, and procurement ethics.
• MG5824 Spend Analysis and Category Management: This module focuses on analyzing spending patterns, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and developing category management strategies.
• MG5825 Contract and Supplier Relationship Management: This module explores contract negotiation, supplier selection, and building effective supplier relationships.
• MG5827 Strategic Procurement Management: This module examines the role of procurement in achieving organizational goals, including risk management, sustainability, and innovation.

Course Schedule:

• Online workshops are scheduled for a full day every second Friday.
• Workshops consist of lectures, individual and group activities, best practice processes, practical spreadsheet applications, and oral presentations.

Assessment:

• All five modules are assessed exclusively by continuous assessment, including Learning Portfolios and Presentations/Reports.
• This approach emphasizes workplace application and applied learning.

Teaching:

• The teaching team comprises academic experts in the field of procurement and highly experienced practitioners.

Careers:

• The program is targeted at procurement specialists and category managers, as well as professionals in closely related areas of industry.
• It is also suitable for procurement personnel who need to upskill and those who aspire to become procurement specialists.
• Owner managers responsible for the procurement function and professionals with business experience who are seeking a procurement role can also benefit from this program.

Other:

• The program operates by way of short intensive "sprints" rather than a long distance race.
• The program team may seek to interview applicants to ascertain the appropriateness of their experience for the program.
• The program is delivered online.
• The program is offered by University College Cork (UCC).
• The program is accredited by the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) at Level 8.
• The program is supported by the Springboard+ initiative, which provides fee subsidies of 90-100% for eligible applicants.

€2,850 for the full programme. €750 per 5 credit module if taken individually. €1,250 per 10 credit module if taken individually.