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About VHI
The Van Horne Institute was established to assist industry, governments, and the public in addressing issues affecting transportation, supply chain management/logistics and regulated industries that are relevant to the well-being and growth of industry and commerce. Efficient and low-cost transportation and logistics services are essential to both industry and the public in our geographically large country, so the evolution of sound industrial strategy, public policy, and progressive legislation and regulations are increasing in importance as business moves further towards globalization. Industry needs to be innovative to compete. The Institute will contribute to this competitive challenge through its education and public policy research activities.The Institute was incorporated federally in 1991 as a not-for-profit organization, and was granted affiliation with the University of Calgary in 1992, The University of Alberta in 1998, SAIT Polytechnic in 2000, and with Athabasca University in 2005. Its Board of Directors brings together the experience and knowledge of a broad group of individuals representing all facets of the transportation industry, government, and the academic community that have an interest in transportation logistics and related regulatory issues.
The Institute strives to access the best knowledge, expertise and information available, and plays a unique role as liaison between the business, governments and the academic community. In doing so, the Institute acts as a catalyst for the development of public policy research and academic programs in transportation, supply chain management/logistics and regulated industries. The Institute’s close relationship with the University of Calgary has resulted in the development of the transportation theme school. Building on this initiative, the Institute is working closely with the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary to develop a Canadian Centre for Advanced Supply Chain Management and Logistics. This joint effort will see the development of B-Comm graduates with a high level of knowledge and skills in advanced supply chain management and logistics. The Institute and the Haskayne School will also establish a research centre for the practice oriented study of advanced supply chain management and logistics techniques. The advanced supply chain and logistics teaching component will build upon the existing supply chain management concentration at the Haskayne School and the School’s core courses in the areas of accounting, finance, marketing, human resources, management and strategy. New courses will be created, addressing the need for advanced knowledge in advance supply chain and logistics with courses in the areas of operations management, strategy, business and the environment.
Recognizing that students at the secondary school level will need to be encouraged to develop a career in supply chain and logistics, the Institute continues to support the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI), designed to introduce courses in supply chain and logistics to students at the secondary school level.The Institute has also established a solid reputation for producing vital and objective research work, and providing recommendations on current policy issues through workshops and forums. The Institute pursues this longer-term objective of developing public policy research through the creation of three subordinate centres for transportation, regulatory affairs and information and communication. The work program for each centre is determined by a Steering Committee comprised of representatives from industry and the academe. The resulting research continues to have relevance over the longer term.
The Steering Committee in each Centre is also tasked with creating education opportunities in their specific areas to assist in the development of a knowledgeable workforce throughout Canada.
Van Horne Institute