The aim of Slog4.0 was to train a new generation of advanced workers for the logistics sector, with a sustainability-oriented mindset referring to Industry 4.0, offering a new sustainable and environmentally friendly logistics education process with university-industry cooperation and an environmental approach. It was planned to increase the digital capacities of higher education institutions and to support sustainable and green logistics for the future reshaped by pandemic and climate sensitivity. During the project implementation partners planned to deliver: i) A set of Design Principles, on which to prepare the SLog4.0 curriculum. ii) A course with four Modules, as follows: 1. Logistics 4.0 in the smart society; 2. Sustainability in Logistics 4.0, 3. IIoT: adopting 4.0 for green logistics, 4. Green challenge, each one divided into chapters, mixing theory and practical activities. Specifically, Module 3 was expected to be fully dedicated to hands-on activities on the topic of IoT. Finally, module (4.) was planned to give the students the possibility of putting into practice all the knowledge and skills acquired in the course and present the proposed solution to the companies.
Logistics investments in EU went up to 38.64 billion euros in 2020. However, Industry 4.0 and the COVID pandemic shocked and increased the fragility of logistics and supply chain industry, including logistics education. The main need addressed by Slog4.0 is to align logistics education learning programs with the high demand for skills in industry, whilst narrowing the gap to industrial needs in educational institutions. The logistics and supply chain sectors have several challenges they face. According to the Inbound Logistics 3PL Perspectives, the top 3 challenges are technology investment, finding, training, retaining qualified labour and corporate social responsibility including sustainability. As providers of skill and knowledge to the logistics workforce, the logistics educational institutions need to adjust the way students are trained to prepare them to be qualified for the future employment trends. This is the main need addressed by Slog4.0 and the reason that moved partners to develop the proposal. Therefore, the need was to find a gap between the qualifications of graduate students that the logistics industry needs and the ability of the current graduate students of the partners.