Grube inaugurates Logistics Competence Center in St. Petersburg

Deutsche Bahn and Russian Railways jointly committed to development of young academics

Berlin/St. Petersburg - The Chairman of Deutsche Bahn AG, Dr. Rüdiger Grube, and President of Russian Railways (RZD), Wladimir Jakunin, gave speeches today to celebrate the opening of the new Competence Centre for Logistics at the Graduate School of Management of St. Petersburg State University.

The first classes begin immediately at the center set up by the two rail compa-nies last autumn, with the full curriculum scheduled to begin in September. The logistics center will primarily focus on applied research in the fields of logistics and supply chain management, in addition to academic education for students based on Bachelors and Masters Degree programs.

Dr. Rüdiger Grube: “In the important growth field of logistics, educating young people to international standards is a key factor for success. Together with our partner RZD, therefore, we plan to make this project a long-term commitment.”

Some 180 students are to be enrolled each year at the first establishment of its kind in Russia, with DB and RZD providing the funds necessary to endow a senior and junior professorship. The collaboration is initially intended to run for five years. Further training at the St. Petersburg institution for employees of both rail companies is also planned.

Academic partners of the project are the State University of St. Petersburg with its Graduate School of Management, the European Business School (EBS) in Wiesbaden (Germany) and the St. Petersburg Transport University, Russia’s oldest technical university. The EBS will provide expertise in the fields of logis-tics and supply chain management, while the Russian universities will support the Chair in rail-related subjects.