The HUMLOG Institute celebrated 15 years
The HUMLOG Institute is one of the first and currently a leading research centre for both academics and practitioners. HUMLOG was established in 2008 and is a joint institute between Hanken School of Economics and the National Defence University in Finland.
Hanken’s Rector Ingmar Björkman says that HUMLOG serves as a role model for Hanken.
“HUMLOG is certainly stepping up to the challenge in dealing with the extremely important issues for the future and doing good for the world.”
Major General Mika Kalliomaa, rector for the National Defence University in Finland, says that HUMLOG is the longest collaboration that the university has had.
“We are very pleased with the collaboration between the two universities, since it enables long-term research. From a military perspective logistics is more important than ever.”
The co-founders of HUMLOG, Karen Spens, rector of BI Norwegian Business School and Gyöngyi Kovács, Erkko professor in humanitarian logistics, says that the institute´s original mission wasn´t that different from now.
“We wanted to do research with and for humanitarian organizations. Anything we do needs to serve the beneficiaries”, says Kovács.
Spens agrees and states that there was a huge interest from the practitioners from the start.
“In order to create impact, it´s essential to partner up with practitioners. It´s the essence of what HUMLOG is doing.”
The 15th anniversary event was hosted by Director Diego Vega and Deputy Director Sarah Schiffling. Presentations were held by Professor Marianne Jahre from BI and Lund University, Dr Jonas Stumpf from the non-profit organisation HELP Logistics and the Center for Humanitarian Logistics and Regional Development (CHORD) and Stephen Cahill from the World Food Programme (WFP).
HUMLOG also showcased current research projects such as CORE Opens in new window , Cash and/or carry Opens in new window , HERoS Opens in new window , DigCBA Opens in new window and WREC Opens in new window . At the event the HUMLOG Best Thesis Award was given to Dr. Jonas Stumpf (“Exploring supply chains to strengthen humanitarian operations in times of growing needs, scarce resources and major disruptions”*) and MSc. Margot Rocheteau (“Medical waste management for more resilient humanitarian organizations” Opens in new window ).
Read more about the HUMLOG Institute here:
Welcome to the HUMLOG Institute! Opens in new window
In the picture: Former directors of the HUMLOG Institute Wojciech Piotrowicz, Karen Spens, Gyöngyi Kovács and the current director Diego Vega.
*Papers based on the thesis: