The degree program

The master’s degree program in Logistics and Air Traffic Management offers a research-based and practice-oriented qualification for students and aims to prepare them for specialist and management roles in international logistics. In the program, attention is paid, on the one hand, to practical relevance and, on the other, to the appropriate foundation of knowledge-based approaches on a solid theoretical-methodological basis. Systems theory and systems thinking are especially important in this theoretical framework. Based on this conceptualized and coherent scientific concept, students will be introduced to issues to be explored primarily in a discursive manner and for which advantages and disadvantages can be deduced in each case. This will enable students to develop complexity-focused thinking and behavioral patterns which will ensure effective management of complicated, multi-faceted and complex tasks. From the many different fields of Logistics Management, the focus is particularly placed on those requiring a high degree of system-related, integrated understanding of complex issues. These subject areas are consistently characterized by a high level of social and communication skills including intercultural competence. Additional content from Air Traffic Management augments the degree program, Logistics Management, to ensure that the academic program does not focus on generalities, but rather reflects a specific subject area within the inherently broad field of Logistics Management. In accordance with this overarching objective of the program, students in the master's degree program are required to broaden and intensify their existing knowledge. The focus is on developing knowledge based on instrumental, systemic and communicative skills. Students will learn and practice these skills and competencies in the master's degree program through its curriculum and didactic characteristics. Master's students are also required to demonstrate a high level of independent learning, which will enable them to independently generate - based on existing knowledge and understanding - necessary new knowledge which can then be applied in practice-oriented projects even during their program.

The main admission and entry requirements for the master's degree program in Logistics and Air Traffic Management at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences are regulated in the statute on the implementation of the assessment procedure for degree programs with special eligibility requirements (Satzung zur Durchführung des Feststellungsverfahrens für Studiengänge mit besonderen Eignungsvoraussetzungen) as well as in the program-specific appendices to these statutes. The most important regulations include:

• bachelor's degree, preferably in Business Administration with a specialization in logistics, from a German or European university,
• minimum bachelor's degree grade to participate in the assessment procedure,
• if the admission qualifications were not acquired in German, proof of German language skills at least at Intermediate Level II for the application and TestDaF Level 4 or DSH 2 for the start of the program must be provided.

Applications for the master's degree program in Logistics and Air Traffic Management must be submitted in full to the Student Service Center at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences by July 15 (winter semester) of each year. After the application deadline, the selection committee will decide on admission or rejection based on the currently valid statute on the implementation of the assessment procedure for degree programs with special eligibility requirements.

The master's degree program in Logistics and Air Traffic Management comprises 120 ECTS credits with a workload of 30 hours per ECTS credit. The program is divided into three program sections. Semesters 1 and 2 each contain 3 compulsory modules (a total of 6 compulsory modules in both semesters) and 3 elective modules per semester (a total of 6 elective modules in both semesters). The goal is to specialize students in a professional field by teaching scientific models and methodological concepts offering in-depth knowledge and practice in logistics management. In semester 1, students are required to select one elective module each from the catalogs of elective modules in Business Administration, Economics, and Commercial Business Law. In semester 2, students are required to select one elective module each from the catalogs of elective modules in Business Administration, Economics, and Further Electives. The modules in these elective catalogs have indirect/direct content-related relevance to fields of action in logistics management. The project modules in both semesters contain both the basics of research-based, method-oriented scientific work and topics related to logistics management. Students will acquire a total of 60 ECTS credits in semesters 1 and 2. Semester 3 is available to students as a mobility semester. In this semester, students must complete an extended practice-oriented academic project with a minimum duration of 24 weeks and a thematic focus on logistics management. Alternatively, students can complete course work totaling 30 ECTS credits at a partner university abroad in modules related to logistics. A learning agreement is the basis for the recognition of coursework completed at a university abroad and thus ensures that the selected modules at partner universities are relevant to the degree objective. As a third option, students can complete modules from other master's degree programs of the Department of Economics, or other departments at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, to a maximum total of 30 ECTS credits. The master's thesis and the colloquium in semester 4 conclude the degree program. In their master's thesis, students must demonstrate their ability to work, under supervision and within 20 weeks, on a defined problem using scientific methods. Master's theses can be written either in cooperation with industrial companies (external theses) or as theoretical theses at the university (internal theses). In any case, the thesis topic must be related to logistics.

The didactic concept of the degree program is based on the corresponding qualification goals, which, in addition to teaching broad scientific and conceptual knowledge, also include teaching methodological and social skills. This is particularly supported by a high proportion of interactive types of instruction and group work. The master's degree program is offered as a full-time program. The classes include lectures, case studies, lab/pool classes, project work, seminars, simulations, and excursions. With the acquired competencies, graduates can start their careers in middle management and senior specialist positions in logistics management for companies, for airlines and for logistics service providers related to aviation - including in international contexts. Graduates also have interesting prospects at management consulting firms. In addition, graduates will have the opportunity to pursue a doctorate. Concerning the development of decision-making skills for logistical problems, it is important to note that “correct” or “incorrect” logistical decisions can only be made if narrow (often model-based) assumptions or frames of reference are available. In most cases, however, a decision for a logistical problem is likely considered “good”, depending on how comprehensively it is justified in discourse, i.e. under consideration of advantages and disadvantages. In this respect, the key to decision-making competence is related to improved problem-solving skills. True to the postulate, “there is nothing more practical than a good theory”, it is important that students do not learn to act in a “black vs. white” manner, but instead are capable of acting based on a “continuum” of alternatives to be weighed up. Students and graduates must also recognize that an ideal solution for solving a problem is not always possible and that they should be able to formulate one of several possible approaches. From a scientific-theoretical perspective, however, this in no way postulates a constructivist picture but instead implies a fundamentally critical and rational understanding.

Summer semester 2017

Prof. Dr. Bernd Madauss

Winter semester 2016/17:

Regine Büttner (Executive VP, DHL Express)
Matthias Quandt (Airbus Defence & Space)

Summer semester 2016

Ulf Weber (Managing Director, Aerologic)
Riccardo Kämpf (DHL Hub Leipzig)
Mark Stelse (DHL Hub Leipzig)
Fabrizio Ubiali (DHL Hub Leipzig)

Winter semester 2015/16:

Gerhard Schulz (Chairman of the Board, Kulturzentrum Schlachthof Wiesbaden)

Summer semester 2015

Justin Erbacci (Vice President, Star Alliance)

Winter semester 2014/15:

Alexander Kaczmarek (Group Representative, Deutsche Bahn)
Dr. Alexander Vogt (European Parliament)

Summer semester 2014

Dr. Nizar Abdelkafi (Fraunhofer IMW Leipzig)
Prof. Dr. Frank Fichert (Worms University of Applied Sciences)

Professor Michael Maloni (Atlanta, USA) - 2016

Mike Maloni demonstrated meaningful supply chain management simulations with current MLM students in the PC lab in May 2016. At the same time, we have also expanded our cooperation in logistics research. We sincerely thank him for his contributions.

Professor Michael Maloni (Atlanta, USA) - 2015

In the summer of 2015, Mike Maloni from Kennesaw State University (USA) explored topics of production management and logistics, also referencing innovative logistics issues with students from logistics-related fields from the master's degree programs. His teaching program included excursions (BMW Munich and DHL Leipzig) and simulations in the PC pools.

Prof. Dr. Andrea Berzlanovich (Medical University of Vienna) - 2014

In the summer of 2014, students from the master's degree program in Logistics and Air Traffic Management as well as other master's degree programs in business administration developed approaches to various issues related to social skills.

In the summer semester 2013, the second "Summer School in Logistics" for students of Anhalt University of Applied Sciences took place. Between September 23 to 28, 2013, 18 students worked on issues related to modern international logistics. The focus was on air transport and air freight as well as on rail freight and container logistics. Excursions took participants to Berlin Brandenburg Airport and Frankfurt Airport, Lufthansa Cargo, the container terminals at the Port of Hamburg, and the DB Mobility Networks Logistics training center in Bad Homburg. Our practice partners worked with the students to identify commonalities and “transition spaces” between air-, rail-, and water-based logistics. Our sincere thanks to all speakers, practice partners and students.

Summer School in Logistics 2013

In the summer semester 2013, the second "Summer School in Logistics" for students of Anhalt University of Applied Sciences took place. Between September 23 to 28, 2013, 18 students worked on issues related to modern international logistics. The focus was on air transport and air freight as well as on rail freight and container logistics. Excursions took participants to Berlin Brandenburg Airport and Frankfurt Airport, Lufthansa Cargo, the container terminals at the Port of Hamburg, and the DB Mobility Networks Logistics training center in Bad Homburg. Our practice partners worked with the students to identify commonalities and “transition spaces” between air-, rail-, and water-based logistics. Our sincere thanks to all speakers, practice partners and students.

International project weeks with PNFU Perm

Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Jörg Schmidt (Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Bernburg), a German-Russian student symposium on “Logistik nach, in und durch Russland” (logistics to, in and through Russia) took place on May 7, 2013 as part of the international project weeks with the PNFU Perm (Russia). We would like to thank our Russian colleagues for the successful event.

Summer School in Logistics 2012

In the summer semester 2012, the first "Summer School in Logistics" for Anhalt University students took place with students from Departments 1 and 2. From September 24 to 29, 2012, 29 students worked on issues related to modern international logistics. Excursions took the participants to Frankfurt Airport, Leipzig Halle Airport, DHL, Amazon, Dresden and Lufthansa's training center in Hesse on the Bergstrasse.