Kyzzhibek Shainazarova: “Logistics and supply chain management skills would be useful whether I work in some industry or decide to pursue a career in analytics or consulting”

December 6, 2016

Shainazarova Kyzzhibek, senior of economics at the American University of Central Asia’s (AUCA), is currently completing her minor in Business Administration with the Logistics and Supply Chain Management (LSCM) Program. We sat down to talk to her about her experience in the program.

Tell us a little bit about who you are.

I am a senior in economics and I graduated from high school in Osh. I have always believed in the importance of education. After spending an exchange year in the USA, I realized how much Kyrgyzstan lags behind in many areas compared with other countries. Closely observing the nature of things in a more developed country, I thought I had gotten a clearer idea of what needs to be changed in KR and was very inspired. Hence, I have decided to study economics to be able to contribute to the development of my country

How did you become interested in logistics?

I first learned about LSCM at a presentation by Dr. Kreie my sophomore year. The numbers and facts about Kyrgyzstan’s Logistics Performance Index and Wal-Mart’s unbelievable revenue gains just through effective logistics attracted my attention from the beginning. I decided to take the course and, currently, I am in the fourth module. Besides taking the four academic modules at AUCA, I have actively participated in the organization of the first and second International Logistics Conference and Seminar held by Global Technology Solutions and the Kuehne Foundation in Bishkek in 2015 and 2016. This summer, I am looking forward to working as an intern at a large logistics company in Germany.

Tell us more about your experience with the LSCM program itself

Throughout the program, I learned a lot about logistics and supply chain management. The first three modules were mostly theoretical and focused on introducing students to supply chain management, inventory management and procurement, transportation and distribution. The fourth module is applied logistics and is taught as a series of cases. Overall, the course has been interesting, especially the simulation game we are playing now “The Fresh Connection.” It is a very engaging and educating computer game that allows to experience real-world supply chain management decision-making.

In addition, logistics and supply chain management skills would be useful whether I work in some industry or decide to pursue a career in analytics or consulting. First, understanding logistics is essential for any company as it is largely integrated with other business operations. Besides business specific applications, logistics and supply chain management is also important for overall economy. Improving logistics and supply chain management will increase the competitive advantage of Kyrgyz goods and services on the international market.

What do you expect from your summer internship in Germany?

Internships are an excellent way of putting the knowledge you learned in the classroom into practice in a “real world” professional environment. This is especially true with internships at the Kuehne foundation. Besides being an opportunity for exploring the field, it would be a unique learning experience thanks to its location in Germany, the leading country in supply chain management expertise. Hopefully, working in Germany would not only be an opportunity to learn more about logistics, but also to witness modern efficient methods in the workplace in general and gain experience working in a different culture. Of course, this internship will also develop and refine communication skills, build your network, improve time-management skills, increase teamwork, and other transferable skills. That is why this internship provided by Kuehne Foundation is so important for my personal development, education, and career.

What advice do you have for students interested in LSCM?

This year, the LSCM program is introducing a few changes which mean the certificate can now be obtained after completion of only 2 courses of 9 credits each.  In my view, this is very convenient and much easier to finish. As far as I know, there are no difficult prerequisites to take, students just need a basic background in economics and business. I encourage other students to take advantage of the courses offered at AUCA and to not miss out on such good opportunities.

Would you like to take this opportunity to thank anyone?

I would like to thank the Kuehne Foundation and AUCA for providing us with such a great opportunity to gain knowledge in a field many people are perhaps even unaware of. I also want to thank all the professors who taught this course and tried to make it interesting and beneficial. Last, but not least, I’d like to thank my classmates, who shared this learning experience with me.

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