Supply Chain Management and Logistics in Panama

• Gain an understanding of the significance of the Panama Canal, one of the world's most important cargo transit zones and a key element in global trade
• Earn 3 hours of business credit
• Includes meetings with supply chain professionals and tours of various key business partner facilities

KU Business students, primarily those majoring or minoring in supply chain management or international business, will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of supply chain management in the global market through exploration of supply chain and logistics practices of U.S., Panamanian, and businesses from around the world.

Panama is considered one of the world’s most important logistics clusters. This means critical business, logistics, value-added services, and supply chain elements come together to provide unparalleled services for customers. Panama is strategically located with access to both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It is also home to the world’s second largest Foreign Trade Zone, featuring unique store-front access for wholesale sales, and serves as a gateway for Caribbean, Central, and South American distribution, while hosting the world’s most critical canal to speed ocean cargo to the U.S. and beyond.

Three hours of academic credit are granted by the University of Kansas upon successful completion of the program and will be posted to the student's KU transcript as a Spring course. Undergraduate students will enroll in SCM 400, IBUS 500, or BBA 500: Global Business and Supply Chain in Panama. Graduate students will enroll in IBUS 895: Graduate Seminar in Supply Chain in Panama.

Course requirements include several pre-program meetings, most scheduled on campus during the fall semester. The meetings will allow enrolled students to learn about global trade practices, meet representatives from area companies that have operations in Panama to understand their supply chain strategies, and why Panama is part of their business/supply chain strategy. Additionally, these meetings provide an opportunity for students to meet those with whom they will be sharing the experience in Panama.

Students will stay in double or triple occupancy rooms in the City of Knowledge dorms the first few nights and in double occupancy hotel rooms during the rest of the program.

The group will visit a variety of businesses of varying size and industries to discuss their supply chain strategy and execution in and around Panama City and the Colon, where there is a Free Trade Zone. Past visits have included J Cain and Payless. The group will also visit an ocean port terminal and the Panama Canal.

Along the Panama Canal, it's planned that the group will visit both the Miraflores Locks and Agua Clara Locks, including stops at their visitor's centers. The Miraflores Museum houses an excellent history of the original Panama Canal construction, which was completed more than 100 years ago.

Students will also hear presentations from experts from places such as the U.S. Department of State, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and World Food Programme.

To learn more about Panama and its natural environment, there will be a guided tour of the city to experience its history: the ruins of Panama Viejo, the first city founded in 1519, Casco Viejo, the historic district founded in the 1600s, and the current, modern Panama City. Additionally, an excursion to the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve is planned.

This program targets students who are majoring or minoring in supply chain management or international business. Open to students from accredited U.S. colleges or universities who have a minimum 2.5 GPA. Exceptions considered after submission of a petition.

Program Cost for Supply Chain Management and Logistics in Panama 

Christopher W. Anderson, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs for the KU School of Business, and Weimar Ardila-Rueda, lecturer, will lead the program.

Both professors speak Spanish and Professor Anderson has co-led this program in previous years.