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Supply chain management for

colleges/universities: solutions to improve the
efficiency of science and technology transfer
ARTICLE JANUARY 2014

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1 AUTHOR:
Khuyen Pham
Thainguyen University of Technology
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Khuyen Thi Minh Pham et al

Journal of SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY

127(13): 63 - 68

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT FOR COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES:

SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE TRANSFER OF
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Khuyen Thi Minh Pham*, Yen Thi Mai Pham
University of Technology TNU

ABSTRACT
The Integrated Educational Supply Chain Management (IESCM) for the colleges and universities
provides two main contributions to the society, including human resource contribution and
research contribution through two main activities of colleges/universities: education and research.
In the world, theories about Educational Supply Chain were studied in the last years of the 90s,
but in Vietnam these contents are still new. This article depicts a holistic view, comprising inputs,
the process, and outputs of the educational supply chain. With the analysis about three group
activities of supply chain management and some experiences from education developing
countries, the paper also provides educational management a new dimension to understand how
supply chain management contributes to successful university operations, especially enhances the
efficiency of scientific and technological transfer.
Keywords: The Integrated Educational Supply Chain Management (IESCM), Efficiency of scientific and
technological transfer, Relationship Management, Social Orientation, Strategy.

INTRODUCTION
In recent times, the theory of supply chain
management (SCM) has been widely studied
under a variety of labels and for a number of
reasons: improving operations, better
outsourcing, increasing profits, enhancing
customer satisfaction, generating quality
outcomes, tackling competitive pressures,
increasing
globalization,
increasing
importance of E-commerce, and growing
complexity of supply chains.

Initiated the SCM Concept

1995
1980
Initiated SCM in the Service Industry

Initiated Logistic Concept

195
0

In the world
The first theory about supply chain
management appeared in 1950s with the
development of goods and relationships in
businesses... and it rapidly widened their
applications to other fields of life. (Fig 1)
It is a surprising fact that researchers
developed SCM models focusing mostly on
improving
business
operations.
Few,
particularly academic researchers, do not
realize that the research on academic supply
chain management may also be conducted for
their own educational institutions.

197
0

199
0

Matured Logistic Concept

1985
SCM in the Manufacturing Industry

ITE SCM
2009

201
0
Redesigned ITESCM
2012
2007
Education SCM

Figure 1. Timeline of theory in Supply chain management*

*

Tel: 01688140486Email: khuyenqlcn@gmail.com

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Khuyen Thi Minh Pham et al

Journal of SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY

Until 1996, OBrien [1] proposed an

educational supply chain as a tool for
strategic planning in tertiary education. The
study was based on a survey among
employers and students. Survey findings
revealed that integration and coordination
among students and employers should have
been promoted. In 2007, Lau [2] performed
an in-depth case study approach to developing
an educational supply chain management for
the City University of Hong Kong. In fact,
Educational
supply
chain
represents
international supply chain management
concept as it is the uniform dimension for the
international arena (Habib, 2008-2012) [3].
In Vietnam
The concepts of SCM are rather new with
Vietnamese business. The Manager started
considering the theory of SCM in some recent
years when Vietnam became a member of
WTO and they had to face with the strong
competition of global companies. But, almost
researches focused on the SCM in
manufacturing industry.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Model of
supply chain for colleges/
universities

127(13): 63 - 68

The objective of the educational supply chain

is to develop the quality graduates and
researches with limited resources for the
society, which is the final customer or
consumer. To achieve this goal, educational
institutions need to have a certain degree of
knowledge about the partners in their supply
chains including suppliers, customers, and the
consumer. (Fig 2)
Suppliers
Education Suppliers include: Suppliers of the
student (high schools/colleges); Suppliers of
the faculty (Other universities/colleges);
Source of fund Family (Parents, siblings),
relatives, etc; Government and private
organizations (Scholarship); Suppliers of
assets or equipment (Furniture, computer,
networking equipment, etc.); Suppliers of
educational materials (Stationery, instruction
materials, etc.);
Research Suppliers include: Suppliers of
Internal Research Projects (University self
funding); External research projects (External
research funds, Ministry of Education, private
organizations, etc.)

Education Supplier

Research Supplier

Pupils

Research

projects
Colleges/Universities
PE

UC

FC

FA

PE

UC

FC

FA

PE: Programs Establishment

UC: Universities culture

Research Strategies, plans,

operation and performance

Academic Strategies, plans,

operation and quality

evaluation.
Graduates

Research

Education customers

Research Customers

FC: Faculty Capabilities

FA: Facilities

Society
Figure 2. Model of Educational Supply chain for Colleges/universities [4]

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Activities of colleges/universities
A university is regarded as a service provider
with 2 main services: Education and
Research. Through proper educational
management, the university can produce
quality outcomes for the society.
Factors influence on the supply chain for
colleges/universities often are Programs
Establishment (PE), Universities culture
(UC), Faculty Capabilities (FC), Facilities
(FA). In Vietnam, it also be depend on the
management and regulation of government.
Outcomes
Graduates: Quality of graduates often
include: Knowledge (Tacit or Explicit), skills,
competencies, capabilities, ethics, career
Development Programs
Researches: Quality research outcomes may
include problem solution, pure theory, thesis
findings, internal and external projects
applications,
researchers,
research
publications, or research findings, etc.
Customers
EEducation Customers: Graduates, family
(parents,
siblings,
relatives,
etc.),
employers
of government and private
organizations.
Research Customers: Funding organizations
of research projects, research outcomes
(researchers, research publications, findings
etc.),
Others
(research
professional
organizations, Society of manufacturing
engineers and Trade Associations, etc.).
Consumers
The society is the end
customer in
educational
supply
chain.
As
colleges/universities are the part of the
society, the final outcomes of this supply
chain, including graduates with desirable
quality and quality research outcomes are
delivered to the society.
The activities in supply chain management
for colleges/universities and their effects to
the transfer of science & technology
There are three groups of activities in supply
chain management for Colleges/universities.

127(13): 63 - 68

Operate the activities of Colleges/universities

with Society orientation
In educational management, three decision
levels are involved in the process of the
university: 1. Strategic Level- general
direction, long-term goals, philosophies and
values; 2: Planning Level: decisions support
strategic decisions; 3: Operating Level: every
day decisions, Operational decisions can be
pre-programmed, pre-made, or set out clearly
in policy manuals. These decision should be
based on the social need for human resources
and
researches
and
abilities
of
colleges/universities.
Relationship management with suppliers
Raw material in educational supply chain for
colleges/universities are pupils in high school
and other colleges and they take an
importance part in the success of education
process. Pupils need to be career oriented
early and clearly to have good preparation
and attitude to study in colleges/universities .
This is only achieved when universities and
schools have a good relationship with each
others. Good relationship with high schools
also help colleges/universities
have
advantage in attracting pupils.
Research Suppliers are specially important
with
research
supply
chain
for
colleges/universities because they supply
fund and information for research.
colleges/universities want to become research
colleges/universities need have a big self
research funding and lots of External research
funds.
Relationship management with customers
Relationship
management
between
colleges/universities
and
Businesses
represented by their co-operations:
1. Cooperation in Research: The purpose of
this collaboration is to achieve support for
research activities of the colleges/universities,
implementing projects that link the academic
world and the business conduction.
2. Commercialization of research results: It
includes technology transfer. In developing
countries like Vietnam, to be able to promote this
form of cooperation, it is necessary to do
immediately is to strengthen the institutional
framework to ensure the actual intellectual
property rights.
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3. Promote mobility of students: by creating

mechanisms to support them, such as putting
students in internships and creating
opportunities for them to be able to
experience many rich aspects of the world
outside the colleges/universities . Strengthen
coordination with the human resource
department of the company, business to
facilitate students to the world of work.
4. Promote the movement of academia:
Encourage exchanges or short-term contract
work of academics in the business to build
relationships, share their views and capture
reality.
5. Develop and implement training programs:
Improve the quality of education and help
students adapt well to the demands of the
labor market. It should encourage the
involvement of businesses in the construction
and renovation of colleges/universities
programs, through discussion and information
exchange.
6. Support business start-up activities:
creating a stimulating cultural faculty and
students
to
think
and
act
with
entrepreneurship, put them to the way of the
corporate world and attract them to escape the
old path of thinking.
These co-operations between businesses and
colleges/universities have contributed to
social many benefits: Creates new knowledge
(through research, reflected by patents,
inventions, scientific articles), promotes
production (through technology transfer,
expressed through economic growth based on
knowledge), providing skilled human
resources (through training, demonstrated by
the number of graduates have jobs).
EXPERIENCES
FROM
OTHER
COUNTRIES
The United State (U.S): High investment
from Government and Companies to
colleges/universities; Good relationship
between high schools, colleges/universities
and business
In the U.S., the U.S. government's investment
for Science and Technology higher than the
same investment in the governments of
European countries and Japan combined,
while investment in Science and Technology
66

127(13): 63 - 68

of the U.S. company 3 times higher than the

value of government investment. The policy
of the U.S. government is creating conditions
for all U.S. citizens to access to education and
training they need.
U.S. universities have good relationship
between high schools and Business and its
result is that, currently, one third of the research
in the world of Science and Technology
published annually branded America. 45% of
professors, scientists teaching at U.S.
universities are foreign nationals.
Singapore: colleges/universities are real
businesses, always orient to social [5]
Singapore is well-known as a center of high
technology, have contributed
of the
university at international level. They handle
very well the relationship between
universities with businesses around the
exploitation of research results and protection
of intellectual property rights. This experience
is significantly useful for Vietnam. Being the
country's only two full-fledged universities up
to the turn of the century, the National
University of Singapore and Nanyang
Technological University have a strong
tradition of collaborating with industry. Their
graduates continue to find employment
readily in the diverse manufacturing and
service sectors in the country. The culture of
interaction with industry has been developed
through a range of activities including
internships,
research
collaboration,
technology licensing, adjunct appointments
and industry participation in consultative
committees of academic departments.
LESSONS
FOR
VIETNAMS
COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES
To improve the efficiency of scientific and
technological transfer we need to care about
two main issues: 1) The relevance of science
and technology is transferred to reality; 2)
The capacity of the parties to perform the
transfer. The training institutes in the world
solve these problems by managing the
relationship between the members of the
educational supply chain. In Vietnam, it is
still new lessons.

Khuyen Thi Minh Pham et al

Journal of SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY

Improve quality of education and research

with social orientation
Concentrate on Students is outdated. Enhance
education and research quality is not only about
improving level of lectures, education programs
and services but also all of them to satisfy the
social needs.
Many managers of colleges/universities still
think that they need to concentrate on needs
of students such as their knowledge, their
accommodation, their leisure activities,
But, the main and most important purpose of
learning in colleges/universities is to get a
good job for ones life. And we can do it only
by giving them the knowledge, skills and
attitude that the society needs. The number of
graduates that have jobs in properly trained
field is an important criterion that made the
reputation of a institution
The reputation of one College/University also
depends on their abilities on research.
colleges/universities in Vietnam. The
universities
of
Vietnam
are
often
underestimated in research capacity. We have
a lot of professors, doctors but the numbers of
researches which are recognized in the region
and the world are even lower than the average
level of the Southeast Asia region. There are
two main reasons are: 1) Lack of orientation
mechanisms, support scientific research at
both national and Universities levels. 2)
Separation to research environment (social
demand) of scientists. So, they are the urgent
problems that need to change in order to
improve the efficiency of scientific and
technological research.
Relationship between Colleges/universities
and high school
Study the social needs, design right product,
show what we need from the supplier and
help them supply good raw material is the
process to make a suit product and gain a
better benefit in a Supply chain. And this
process also apply in Educational Supply
chain. Help high schools orient the career for
the pupils basing on their abilities and dream
work to chose right pupils with their love and
abilities
to
study
will
help
colleges/universities have best raw material
for education. These graduates will be good

127(13): 63 - 68

employee for scientific and technological

transfer process from colleges/universities to
society with good abilities, knowledge and
attitude.
We can do it by exchanging experience in
developing training programs, practicing
View
and
experience
programs
in
colleges/universities for pupils and promoting
the
reputation
and
activities
of
colleges/universities.
Relationship between Colleges/universities
and business/organizations
Stay together to talk and share the view to
cooperate
The relation will bring many advantages for
the partner: The Universities have graduates
working more efficiently and better usability
scientific research; Enterprises have more
quality human resources to carry out the
process of applying science and technology to
be transferred from the theoretical model.
But, in Vietnam, Colleges/universities and
businesses have little connection with each
other. The Colleges/universities just try to
expand the size and training programs from
the model of famous universities in the world
and seek to attract students. However, very
few of them assess training programs that if
they actually fit with the requirements of
business and organizations that recruit their
graduates. There is very little real concern of
universities to make the relationship with
business and society to encourage scientific
research in accordance with practical
requirements. The business always criticize
the universities for their theoretical and
ineffective program but they themselves
accept retraining costs rather than invest in
supporting for training and research activities.
So universities and businesses need to sit
back and interact more on what they need to
create real benefits for both parties. They
need to build an effective partnership
mechanisms including the terms of the rights
and responsibilities of each party.
Organize the centre to manage the
relationship
The center will organize and implement
activities to manage the Colleges/ Universities
relationship. The main activities of the centre
include:
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Journal of SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY

1) Construct the Funds for research from

Colleges/universities and Businesses;
2) Cooperate in research and transfer of
science and technology: Take place programs
to exchange experience and knowledge of
science and technology; Develop mechanisms
for intellectual property rights of the products
of science and technology.
3) Organize the study and work programs for
students and faculty in business: lessons from
lectures of Business, visiting and practicing
programs in business .
4) Cooperate in evaluating the effectiveness
of training programs and research activities.
CONCLUSION
From the article, the interrelationships among
all educational management components are
investigated. It also show that the Integrated
Educational Supply Chain Management will
give Colleges and Universities a chance to
enhances the efficiency of scientific and
technological transfer in theory and experiences
from others countries. With Colleges and
Universities in Vietnam, they need to:
1) Improve quality of education and research
with social orientation.
2) Manage the relationship with high school
in job orientation and building the programs.
3) Manage
the
relationship
with
business/organizations in education and
research.

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REFERENCE
1. OBrien, Elaine M. and Kenneth R. (1996),
Educational supply chain: a tool for strategic
planning in tertiary education? Marketing
Intelligence & Planning, Vol. 14 No. 2, pp.33-40.
2. Lau, Antonio K.W (2007), Educational
supply chain management: a case study, Emerald
Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1074-8121, Vol.
15 No.1, pp.15-27.
3. Habib,
Mamun
and
Chamnong
Jungthirapanich (2008), An integrated framework
for research and education supply chain for the
universities, The 4th IEEE International
Conference on Management of Innovation and
Technology, Thailand.
4. Pathik, B. B., and Habib, M., Redesigned
ITESCM Mode l: An Academic SCM for the
Universities, International Journal of Supply Chain
Management (IJSCM), Vol. 1, Issue 1, pp. 12-26,
Excelling Tech Publishing Company, London, UK,
2012b. ISSN: 2050-7399 (online), 2051-3771 (print).
5. Pathik, B. B., and Habib, M., Enhancing
supply chain management for the universities
IESCM model perspective International Journal
of Supply Chain Management (IJSCM), Vol. 1,
Issue 2, pp. 1-13, Excelling Tech Publishing
Company, London, UK, 2012c. ISSN: 2050-7399
(online), 2051-3771 (print).
6. University and Industry Relations in
Singapore. By Jasmine Kway, Deputy Director of
Industry and Technology Relations Office,
National University of Singapore.

TM TT

QUN TR CHUI CUNG NG GIO DC: GII PHP NNG CAO

HIU QU CC CHUYN GIAO KHOA HC CNG NGH
Phm Th Minh Khuyn*, Phm Th Mai Yn
Trng i hc K thut Cng nghip H Thi Nguyn

Hot ng qun tr chui cung ng gio dc (IESCM) cho Trng cao ng v i hc cung cp
hai ng gp chnh cho x hi, bao gm ng gp v ngun nhn lc v ng gp v khoa hc
cng ngh thng qua hai hot ng chnh l: o to v nghin cu. Trn th gii, l thuyt v
chui cung ng gio dc c nghin cu t nhng nm cui ca thp nin 90, nhng Vit
Nam y vn l mt ni dung rt mi. Bi vit ny cung cp mt ci nhn ton din, bao gm cc
yu t u vo, qu trnh, v kt qu u ra ca chui cung ng gio dc. Vi nhng phn tch v
ba nhm hot ng chnh ca qun l chui cung ng v mt s kinh nghim t cc nc c nn
gio dc pht trin, bi bo lm r nhng ng dng ca qun l chui cung ng gio dc i
vi cc hot ng trng i hc, c bit l tng cng hiu qu ca chuyn giao khoa hc v
cng ngh.
T kha: Qun tr chui cung ng gio dc, Hiu qu chuyn giao khoa hc cng ngh, Qun tr mi
quan h, nh hng x hi, Chin lc.
*

Tel: 01688140486; Email: khuyenqlcn@gmail.com

68

Thinh Duc Nguyen et al

Journal of SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY

127(13): 69 - 72

DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF ROBOTIC BLUETOOTH CLEANER

Thinh Duc Nguyen1,*, Thao Thi Phuong Phan1, Oanh Thi Lam Nguyen2
1
University of Technology TNU; 2Canon Vietnam .Co.Ltd

ABSTRACT
The robotic bluetooth cleaner is a kind of the semi-automatic robot that can communicate with
smart devices such as smartphones, Computers by transferring bluetooth signal which is generated
in many electronic devices. This article presents a mechanical design and fabrication of the robot
as well as an algorithm for programming. The robot can move automatically on the floor and
collect dirt over a wide area by using triangular swept mechanism. The ultrasonic sensor detects
the distances from any obstacles to the robot then avoids them following the programmed paths.
This leading technology will dominate the modern domestics and vehicles in the near future.
Keywords: Bluetooth signal; robotic cleaner; domestic devices; untrasonic sensor.

STATEMENT PROBLEMS
Housework is now kind of tired and timeconsuming works. People clean by their
hands or some heavy wet cloth mops. It takes
lots of time to clearn a wide area.
Current products do not fulfill customers
requirements. There are various types of
cleaning machines such as vacuum cleaners
though people still have to do cleaning work
manually.
Additionally, science and technology are
developing quickly. People are desiring and
looking for a smaller product that can both
automatically and manually clean over the
wide area. This product can be connected to
smart phones or computers by a wireless
connection. And its price should be cheaper
than other common products.

Taking both benefits and drawbacks of

present designs, this project introduces an
engineering scope to develop a new design of
robotic cleaner.
CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
In this conceptual design the sensor detects
the distances from the obstacles to the robot
then the robot turns left or right atomatically
to avoid obtacles depending the program by
only one sensor. The zigzag path is
programmed to fulfill a wide area and two
driven motors controlled while swept
mechanism collecting all materials over a
wide area. It is shown on the Figure 1.
Furthermore the robot can stop automatic
running and change to manual control
alternately when the user want to swept dirts
over other areas.

Figure 1. 3D prototype of roboblue conceptual design on Solidwork software 2013*

*

Tel: 0946650662; Email: ducthinhap@tnut.edu.vn

69