At-scale: advanced technologies in supply chain logistics and excellence

Miami-Dade College's AT-SCALE (Advanced Technologies in Supply Chain Logistics and Excellence) project, funded by the National Science Foundation's Division of Undergraduate Education under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076), will modernize the institution's supply chain education curriculum through integration of advanced technologies including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT). The $459,971 project grant, awarded October 1, 2025, and extending through September 30, 2028, will deliver state-of-the-art laboratory equipment, updated course curricula incorporating industry best practices, and flexible learning pathways including stackable credentials and weekend courses designed to serve both traditional students and incumbent workers. The college will recruit 103 students through targeted outreach activities such as summer camps, lunch-and-learn sessions, and lab tours, ultimately enrolling them in either the Associate of Science in Supply Chain program or the Logistics and Transportation Specialist College Credit Certificate.

The project's service delivery model leverages strategic industry partnerships with Quanser, which will provide principal investigator training and ongoing technical support, and ProLogis, a global logistics leader, which will supply subject matter experts to conduct semester-long student engagement, mentor internship placements, and advise curriculum development through an established industry advisory board. This collaborative approach ensures that graduates acquire the technical competencies and practical experience necessary to enter and advance within the supply chain and logistics workforce, thereby supporting national economic competitiveness and workforce development objectives.

Abstract

Miami dade college?s (MDC) advanced technologies in supply chain logistics and education (at-scale) project will aim to modernize MDC's supply chain education program by integrating advanced technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and the internet of things (IOT) into the traditional supply chain curriculum. This project will provide students with the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience required to thrive in a rapidly evolving workforce and support the nation's economic competitiveness and workforce development. Over the three-year project, MDC anticipates that 103 students will be recruited through at-scale summer camps, lunch & learn events, lab tours, and continuing education opportunities. These efforts will lead to enrollment in credit-bearing courses within the associate of science (as) in supply chain program or the logistics and transportation specialist college credit certificate (CCC), equipping students with the skills to enter and excel in the supply chain and logistics field. The project will include a range of activities designed to address evolving workforce needs and modernize supply chain education. MDC will obtain state-of-the-art equipment for the at-scale lab and partner with quanser to provide a one-week training program for the principal investigators in addition to ongoing technical support. Prologis, a global leader in logistics, will provide subject matter experts (smes) who will share insights on advanced technologies and best practices, guide internships and placement opportunities, and meet with MDC students at least once per semester. The project will establish a modernized curriculum with input from an existing industry advisory board, which will offer feedback on new course modules. Flexible learning pathways, including updated weekend courses and stackable credentials will be developed to support incumbent workers seeking to upskill and advance their careers. There is significant potential to advance understanding of modernizing the supply chain workforce and advance knowledge within the field of supply chain and logistics through the enhancement of educational methodologies by incorporating specific advanced technologies and continuous real-time industry feedback into the revised MDC supply chain curriculum. The goal of the project is to address the technician-level workforce needs by incorporating advanced technologies into the existing supply chain curriculum. The project will create a state-of-the art at-scale lab to provide hands-on training with industry-standard tools, increase program enrollment and retention; and develop flexible learning pathways for incumbent workers. This project is funded by the advanced technological education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.