 Hello, everyone, and thank you for joining our webinar. My name is Robert Cummings, and I am here to help navigate you through our overview and admissions webinar here for the MIT Supply Chain Management Program. With me, I have our Executive Director, Dr. Maria Hazouz-Sainz. And together, we will go over this presentation for the next 30 minutes and then have a section for Q&A with some of our current students. So with that, I will jump right into the presentation overview and then give Maria a chance to tell us a little bit more about supply chain management. So for today, we will first cover the topic of what is supply chain management and why is it such a pressing issue now in the world. Then we will highlight some of the professional outcomes from our program here and what we have to offer through our program overview. Finally, we'll cover the application process and all the information needed for applicants to begin their process with us. And then finally, the major selling points of the MIT experience and learning from our students. Great. So with that, I will turn it over to Maria. Hello, everybody. So thank you very much for being with us today. We are really excited about this new academic year and this new cohort that is being shaped today. So actually, this is our first kind of activity for welcoming all the prospects students. So really glad to be here. And then we want to share a lot of good news with you, a lot of excitement, outcomes, and benefits of getting engaged with our program. My name is Maria Suzayan, director of the MIT Supply Chain Management Master's Program and also director of the MIT Digital Supply Chain Transformation Laboratory doing research on that. So we wanted to start now with, I mean, why Supply Chain Management? What Supply Chain Management means and what is today? And actually, I am sure that then you are motivated about the topic, this is why you are here, but for good reasons, right? So then supply chain has been in the news in the recent year, months. I mean, considering several kind of problems in the supply chain, several reasons why, I mean, the provost are not at the right time in the right place at the right price. And this is what supply chain is doing, is helping to connect different stakeholders who are playing in end-to-end value chain in order to come in from customers, so suppliers of suppliers downstream to customers of customers. So here we have in the slide different reasons with current containers. So the first reason why supply chain is at the right price with the energy, all these logistics infrastructures that have been hit by the worldwide problems today. So this is why supply chain is famous and this is why supply chain is a hot topic today. And then also in terms of the job market, then it is a hot topic and then we will share the thoughts about why supply chain is hot topic So then if we go to the next slide, then we understand again, first what is supply chain, why supply chain is so important, then how do you approach these challenges in supply chain doing applied research. And this is what we are doing in all these laboratories that then are part of our program. So all these structures of our programs, including myself, we work intensively in doing applied research in different areas of supply chain. Here is by strict alphabetical order, but then I mean, part another for me, my lab is the first one, digital supply chain transformation, but we are working in food and retail operations, trade lab, humanitarian, and some of you are interested in that. Last mile delivery with mega city logistics lab is doing a great job all over the world working with trade companies, sustainability, innovation, resilience, folks topic today as well, and visual analytics lab. So you can go to all the website of all these labs in order to understand the latest, I mean, research, latest publications where to understand what we are doing and how we are shaping the impact in different areas of supply chain. So also where, I mean, books that Professor Sheffi has published, recently, but also, I mean, along the evolution of supply chain. So this is how we understand supply chain doing applied research that we bring into our lecture, several classes. So next slide. So yeah, go ahead. Yes, so I'm happy to introduce our professional outcomes from MIT SCM, and basically all of the professional portfolio and development that we offer here. So kicking us off professional development, what does that include for us? So you can see here a comprehensive list of the services that we offer to our students to get you going on your professional career. So that includes resume and cover letter review from two months before you even stepped foot on campus, access to our company recruiters, and really a personal assessment of your talents. So that you can have a better understanding going into job interviews. What are your highlights? What do you need to work on? That's a very critical element of our program. We also offer individual career coaching, interview preparation with our team, Justin Snow and Len Morrison. So they are instrumental in helping you gain your next job. Participation in all of our info sessions, resume drops and interviews with exclusive SCM alumni connections that we built and fostered throughout the past 25 years of our program. And then of course there is the MIT larger network of career advising and professional development here, things such as the incubation hubs for entrepreneurship, startups and VCs. Lots of things are built, come out of MIT. So you'll get access to that larger community experience as well. And then finally of course the job postings themselves will come through. And all of this will lead to our next topic that Maria will highlight. Yeah, all these efforts I mean, have a great impact on the job market. Not only because supply chain is a core topic but also because our students are so great. And then we have these figures that we are so proud. So these are figures of the class of 2022. It means the gold that graduated last spring, the end of spring. So this is the average space salary that is increased with, as you can see on your right on bonus and stock, similar, I mean, so typical kind of overall package in job offer. So we are very proud to say that 97% of job seeking students they received an offer by graduation. Which means before leaving a program, they have an offer. So then they go directly to their job. So if we consider, for example, what other, I mean, organizations are saying about our program, we are also proud to say about our 10 year ROI that is almost $1 million. It means that then after our program, after coming to our program and graduation, then you have this kind of impact in your material investment, which is great. So they don't be obsessed about the tuition, but then think more about the midterm, long-term work, how this program cut much can shape your future career, your future life, which is all these figures are based on real outcomes of our program. We are a boutique program, a small program for students. We are so dedicated to the students, I mean, but so they're really electives are with different options at MIT, but also in terms of job outcomes. So I mean, how they, the students and the graduates impact in the real supply chain arena with all these jobs. We are super proud of all this, but this is thanks to our SEM team, especially career development and also your great profiles of the students. Yeah. So, yeah, kind of jobs that we can find with our, I mean, offers. So then here you can see tech companies working with Google, Apple, Amazon, of course, some, I mean, very advanced mature startups as well, but also in consulting, consulting is a hot, I mean, job search now. Then as you can see here, this is a small percentage and they are paying high level salaries, but they're good also explanation learning opportunities there. So these are the future, future job roles here, going from consulting, associates, I mean, partners, but also doing to all these data science portfolio opportunities, operations, I mean, program managers, demand managers, forecasting inventory, but also to vice president all over the world. So very good outcomes that you can see here with all these results. So going now to then our, also our, I mean, impact. So we are very proud to say that then by the third year in a row, this 2023, actually it was announced last week, then we have been ranked number one worldwide in master supply to management in the ranking, that is the QS ranking, is a very well known QS ranking worldwide. So again, then you can take a look to the press release in order to see how they perceive us as a program, but also every universal ranking, they announced the rankings this weekend as well, in which we have been named number one by seven year, together with our programs and the MIT Global SK Network that I located all over the world, that also, I mean, you can apply to these excellent programs. So again, all the supply chain family in MIT, but together with the scale programs, then we are creating a great, great impact all over the world in supply chain. So then going to the program overview, then let's say, let's compare with other different parts that you can follow. So you can decide if you want to be totally immersed in the in-person on-campus experience for 10 months, this one you have here on your left, this is the supply chain management residential program, is typically early career supply chain professionals, we have an average of four or five years of supply chain experience, and we want, I mean, supply chain experience or high potential in supply chain profiles in our classes in order to, I mean, enhance all these experience in the class. We provide career development and this path on your left residential, then you will be eligible for OPT as the work authorization in the US. Then if you have more advanced career, then you can go to the blended supply chain management program, it's an alternative pathway is what we call a blended it means that then you combine, I mean, the online MITX micro master program supply chain. So those that they have their potential, then they can use it to waive the full term from the residential and then the blended will join directly in general. I will explain this in a minute. These are non-traditional students who maybe may not have a professional or academic background in supply chain area, they can come to our program and then they will follow a five months on campus at MIT. So it's a combination of online, on campus experience. The two paths have exactly the same degree with the degree in applied sciences or the degree in engineering. So then, yeah, so two great ways of coming into our program. So then this is what how we shape our value proposition, actually, then this is our value proposition to develop world-class global leaders, of course, in supply chain with an innovative MIT educational model. So then all these key words here have a meaning in how we shape our program, how to deploy the program and how we also shape the after program with our career development support that we are providing you as a graduate of alumni. This is why we are very proud to say that our alumni network is so powerful but also so engaged with the program. They are coming back to our program to meet our students, to provide recruiting opportunities. So this is a great way of shaping the world of supply chain with global leaders. So this is our intention. So now then. Excellent. So I will do a deeper dive into the timeline of each of the programs to help prospective students get a better feeling for the style of education that you can experience. So first our 10 month residential program starts with the application process, which begins now with, and then concludes with our onboarding process which begins in May. So you'll have some pre-work to do over the summer term, building a resume and beginning to prepare for MIT. The fun part then begins in August with our orientation. It's a rather intensive two week period where we have recruiting preparation. You begin to start learning about the capstone opportunities we have and then a very comprehensive analytical course. Following that, you dive right into classes in the fall term. So you get to navigate MIT and explore different class opportunities both here within SCM, but also throughout the campus. So we have connections with the Sloan School of Management, the Swartzman College of Computing, the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. So there's a lot of opportunities for you to explore what MIT has to offer. Throughout this time, you'll also be building on your capstone projects. Then we'll do in the January IEP period is when all of you will be able to connect with your scale counterparts. So these are students from across the scale global network, from Spain, Luxembourg, China, who will all descend upon MIT for a three week intensive period where you get to explore different topics in global supply chain management and then present your research thus far in our research expo poster session, which is a great networking opportunity and really one of the two key marquee events that we offer here at SCM. Spring continues much like the fall. You'll have a deeper dive into supply chain classes. We'll have several electives that we'll cover in just a second. And then all culminates in that national time at the end of the year where you'll graduate in front of MIT's Kylian Court there. And then finally, the journey doesn't end there as you continue throughout your career, you'll all alumni of our program and we'll hope that we'll have students return to give back to the program with job opportunities throughout their time. So the blended program offers similar characteristics but has a different starting point. So for the blended students, you will begin the MicroMasters program with online classes. You will start your admissions process at the same time right now, but there will be one additional component to begin developing a capstone project proposal, which will be included in your application. Once you have that proposal and go through the application process, the fall term for the blended students is more independent and remote where you will be working with your team to develop your capstone scope and work more independently as you prepare for your journey here at MIT. Then once you join in January, you will have a similar intensive orientation filled with analytical components as well as the finer details of professional development. And then you integrate with the rest of the program, joining the Scale Connect program throughout the three weeks of January. The spring term looks identical for blended and residential students filled with classes, our study track, career coaching, and culminating with our research symposium at the end of May. And then just like the residential cohort, everybody moves to become graduates at the end. So like I said, it's a different starting point, but same endpoint for both programs. In terms of the curriculum that we have to offer, these are some of the highlights that we have available, our fall term subjects for the residential students, which also are very similar to some of the content that the blended students receive online. So things like analytical methods, logistics systems, financial analysis are integral to our program. Additionally, we have electives in analysis, supply chain management, and general management that students will take throughout the time here. IEP is our January term, we have two classes as well. And then finally, in the spring term, we have more machine learning content, more refining of your capstone project, and then additionally, just time for you to work on your capstone projects. And with that, I just have this slide to highlight some of our education offerings that Maria wants to just comment on what we have to offer. As we mentioned, we want to customize your journey here. And this is the way of customizing your journey with different electives that are typically offered in spring in supply chain management. So then going from, again, more topics on more in supply chain finance, but for example, if you want to go to humanitarian logistics, or maybe to specialize in detail on Omni Channel, or maybe to go with sustainability. So then we can combine, for example, the sustainability supply chain management course with a certificate of sustainability delivered by a small school of management here at MIT. So then you can really customize your journey in different ways. In supply chain management, of course, this is the purpose of our program, but also with all the topics that you can combine with a school of engineering, with a school of management here at MIT. So your journey could be very different in each of the different profiles of the students, which is great as something that typically you will value a lot here. Also the capstone project. The capstone project is a key component of our program. Our program is so intensive that then we are putting different layers of experiential learning. One of the layers in the capstone project is a real problem with a real company that is bringing their problem and a challenge. We shape the problem in order to be able to solve the problem in this 10 months program. Both residents and unblocked blended, follow exactly the same timeline with the capstone project. This is one example in which two, typically two students advise one or two researchers from MIT and together with the company, then they offer a solution. In this case, it was a visionary solution how to compare the drone delivery systems in last mile delivery with truck delivery, right? So then they follow different modules as you can see on your left bottom. So different models of combination with drone and track. And then they develop some simulation that will be helpful for the company to decide what to do in the future. So then again, this is a typical case of what to do in the capstone project. It's starting in September, finishing in May, together with all the different courses and applications in our supply-to-matter program. And so with that, I will take a few minutes to highlight our application process and some tips to get applicants starting to think about the process. So to begin with, like each traditional graduate application, we have several components that are mandatory with some flexibility as well, though. So for example, the SCM residential program, we do require either the GMAT or GRE, but as an alternative, we also accept our own SC0x Supply Chain Analytics course, which is a great option if you have additional time to learn just a little bit more about the program or about supply chain management. Everybody will be required to have a written statement of objectives, video statement, which is very integral and I'll mention on the next page, a resume with at least two years of work experience, two letters of recommendation and then your undergraduate transcript. As I mentioned earlier, the blended program, since it does require the online MicroMasters prior to enrollment, you'll have to share your performance on the five online courses plus the final exam and then spend a little additional time outlining your Capstone project that you will propose with the application. This is integral for the blended program because we need to be able to see that you can really hit the ground running and begin that project remotely before joining. So some application tips to keep in mind that we really like to stress that help build a successful application. First is the video statement. It's only two minutes long, but it serves as a really important introduction to the admissions committee. We wanna see that you can demonstrate your authenticity and personality and it's really almost a substitution as a preliminary interview. So really take some time to interweave your personal experiences and professional accomplishments because that will help highlight your application to the admissions committee. Make sure to be yourself, definitely avoid reading a script. We wanna just see as if you were talking to us naturally in a Zoom webinar just like this. You'll use your own webcam and recording devices and our application system will walk you through the steps to do a few tests and you'll record directly in the system. One additional component that is important for us is work experience. We are a professional program and do require a minimum of two years. Ideally, we will see work experience ranges from three to seven years of experience, especially for the residential program, maybe a little bit higher for the blended program. But that experience is key in order to share your experience with the cohort. We wanna be able to see a resume that's clearly laid out and identifies this experience with dates, key accomplishments, roles, companies. All of this may seem obvious, but it's very important that we see that clearly laid out in the resume because that is one thing we reference throughout the admissions review process. So what we'd like here, Robert, to do your mind. So work experience, so the key question is, do we expect work experience and supply chain management? Is not mandatory, right? So then it will be, I mean, well-opposited if you have experience of supply chain. Supply chain is a very broad topic. We can go from port tracing procurement, you can go to manufacturing, operations, logistics, warehouse, transportation, also consultancy and supply chain and operations. So then it's very broad, but also we accept the students that has a high potential in supply chain that they have not collected experience supply chain so far. So don't be afraid of applying if you are really motivated by supply chain. I wanted to highlight it, that it's important. Yeah, definitely an important fact. One other major consideration that we know applicants are always keeping in mind are fellowship opportunities and funding. So the SCM program offers several internal departmental fellowships. We have scale scholars fellowships for students participating in our global scale network and then specific fellowships for advancing women and plus many more additional, over 20 additional competitive fellowships that we nominate our students for. Up to 77% of students from the past year received some sort of fellowship award. It's important to note that our fellowships rarely cover the full amount of the program. So you will have to take, you will have to commit funds yourself. We know that the program is an investment in your future so you'll have to weigh those options. But we are there to help bridge the gap just a little bit with our fellowship opportunities. So make sure to apply in early rounds, round one and round two for residential and round one for blended to be able to be considered for the most competitive fellowships which are offered throughout MIT. So yeah, and another remark here. And so then when you will approach the tuition, so thinking the midterm long-term, right? Okay, you are gonna invest in tuition. We are helping supporting financially with 77% of the students, right? But also thinking the long-term. So then 97% of the students get an offer before graduation. So then all the determine investment starts even before leaving the program and also the ROI in 10 years is almost one million, right? So again, then think strategically, don't think isolating, okay, how are you gonna food the tuition? Of course you need to deal with that. But also think in the midterm long-term when you are making your strategy about the world program you want to follow because then again, after 10 months of our program, then you will be a start in your exponential growth, right? So then think strategically about it, yeah. So as you plan for the application process over the next couple of months, we just wanted to highlight our deadlines here. We have three rounds of deadlines for residential. This is really just to give you the ability to plan your time accordingly. Maybe we know many MBA applications and other programs offer multiple deadlines just to help you gauge the time that makes the most sense for you. There's no competitive difference between the rounds. We manage that on our own and then blended our two deadlines are corresponding with the CFX exam from the MicroMasters team. So if you have any questions on any of those, feel free to always reach out to us. And then finally, I'll turn it over to Maria to highlight just our two final takeaways from the program over the MIT experience and why you should join us. Yeah, I know for, I mean, we want to enhance your MIT experience, right? And then we have different channels to do that. For example, then we are having a track in the spring, beautiful track in which we visit real operations. We connect with alumni in other parts of the world in order to enhance your MIT experience so you can take advantage when you are living Boston. And also you have a lot of team bonding activities before starting doing the orientation is your top right, I mean, picture. So also the MIT itself, MIT is not only the brand, it's much more than that. It's the experience and then the challenging, the entrepreneurship, I mean, experience that we want to promote here and also the opportunity for connecting you with a great community of different stakeholders, not only the faculty, structures, researchers, but also your mates here in the residential with the blended residential, with the scale and with the alumni. So a huge potential of growth along all your different stages that we wanted to emphasize here. But also MIT will go to the next one and then we have some facts in order to emphasize all these experience. So then, I mean, the worldwide has recognized MIT with different novel lower rates as you can see here on your left. MIT is really strong in computing and the future of AI. All of us, we really believe on the future of AI, artificial intelligence. This is also, we build different opportunities if you're interested about this future. But also my preferred fact here is in your right hand side, then MIT, if we measure the global impact of alumni or MIT, then we are creating the 10th largest GDP in the world. So, and then you can be part of this impact. And then you will see that then, I mean, after coming to MIT, then your life will change, your mind will change, and your future impact will change based on the fact only, right? So then we are very proud of this, of that. And then all these figures, I mean, reinforce this impact as well. So yeah, here's some pictures again. So here, this is a beautiful picture about where MIT is on your left top corner. Then all the score facilities, but then we are there in that picture close to the Charles River, close to the MIT, just crossing the bridge fellowship, long fellow bridge, going to the downtown is beautiful. We are on the two stops on the subway to Harvard. So then different pictures about all the experience of MIT, combining modern creativity, as you can see in your right top corner again. So then you will experience on this one, you will be here with us in Boston. Yeah, and so some key facts about MIT. So then here is only 10 months program compared with MBA, for example, typically is two years program. We only have 10 months intensive, very intensive program, but very productive in terms of your outcomes. If you go to the blended, you can train yourself in advance with your micro master online education. And then come here just to double loop all these experiences and learning and then take the experience in a shorter, very intensive five months program. Considering the all the MPVs or nine person value ROI approach, did you compare MBA? Again, two years of tuition, two years being outside of your salary compared with our program. 10 months of tuition, 10 months out of the salary, but very high percentage of receiving a job offer with high salaries. If you make the math, definitely then our program with a specific supply chain is definitely more, I mean, it's all investment. If you compare with the Rosilesia program, OPTS 10 certified. So it means that then if you are coming from outside US, you will have three years of US work authorization for international students. Then we are a big program, a small cohort of 20 students where we deploy our experience to your needs, to your profile. This is very important with all the career development, the quitting, but also your electives. And also then being outside only Boston, also with the Trex, Panama, but also with the scale. I want to also to emphasize that for example, if you are, imagine MIT, X, MicroMaster Certificate holder and then you want to come to the residential, you can do that as well. Actually, you will have more opportunities to go with your electives if you come with a MicroMaster. So it's a part that you can follow as well. So then again, not only residential blended, but also maybe you can come with a MicroMaster to the residential as well, yeah. Excellent. And with that, we can spend the remainder of our webinar here, joined with our current student ambassadors, Ritesh Ray and Jorge Oliver. So they'll help answer some of the questions that we've been, that have been posted in the Q&A. Maria, myself and our program assistant, John have also been answering online and we will be happy to answer more. So with that, I'll turn it over to our student ambassadors just to say hello and introduce yourself before we get started. Yeah. Hi everyone. Am I audible? Yes. It's okay. Great. Thank you, Robert. Thank you, Maria, for that session and thank you for inviting us for this session. Hi, everyone. A little background about me. I am born and brought up in India and currently it's been two months into this program, SM program of Class of 2023. Before coming into this program, I worked in a startup in the supply chain department. I worked in building the supply chain and as the company grew, I focused my role in the strategic sourcing of the supply chain. And after six years, I realized that I need to pivot to a program where I can have deep insights in supply chain given the intention I have in learning more into supply chain. And for that, I just went on Google and typed number one supply chain program and I have the answer MIT. So that's why here I am and it's been two months, but I can't explain how amazing it has been. And I look forward to enjoying rest of the program. Yeah. Over to you, Jorge. Hello, everyone. My name is Jorge Oliver. I am from Peru. I've been involved with supply chain for more than 10 years leading logistics operations in the diverse industries such as steel, construction and retail. Mainly in retail, I have the opportunity to lead large teams in distribution centers. My journey maybe is different. I started this becoming a micromaster holder. I did the micromaster program. From then I was very engaged with the MIT educational methodology because it's different that I have done before really, really different because just theory and then you have to apply it. So it's very practical. That was very, very useful for me. So from then I was or maybe it is a path that I have to follow because I've been looking for many years where I want to study. So that totally engaged with me and also the sense of community. From the micromaster I was the first time that I felt that sense of community. I was a community teacher assistant twice. So I had opportunity to work with people with a worldwide team as we have nowadays in our cohort. We have 16 countries here in our cohort. We have a diverse team at different backgrounds. And yeah, we have been here for two months but it's been really, really great, really intensive and regarding the job applications, don't worry. I was very, very surprised that even in the first week some people were applying to job. So it's really, really, really fast. So yeah, happy to be here with you guys. Thank you very much. Excellent, thank you so much. I wish to have you here, yeah. Great, so I will go ahead and dive into some of the questions we have in the Q&A. Some I'll just answer myself or some I'll pose to everyone here. First I think Maria answered this pretty sufficiently is what are the strengths comparing our program to an MBA program? I think the biggest highlight is just the time commitment and the ROI on that. So you're only here for 10 months versus two years with an MBA but your outcomes will be either similar or even better depending on the type of job you go into. So it's really the, go for Maria. Yeah, and I would like to add the network. So then our network in terms of companies that for example you are working in the capstone project, our labs, all our labs, research labs are in supply chain but the again, the alumni, they are working in supply chain. So they will support your development in supply chain. We also work on developing global leadership. We work on developing analytics, right? So then that are covered by MBA but only the supply chain operations. But if you have a motivation about whatever kind of topic that is very management oriented, you can go with your elective, right? And for example, some of the students are taking courses like leading in ambiguity. It is a beautiful topic that typically is for MBAs but then you can take it, being here now as an elective, right? So then all close. Excellent. So another question posed and maybe Ritesh and Jorge, you can you can mention your experience. Do the students cooperate or participate in other research labs or are you confined to just one? I will say for our capstone projects, we do assign students based off of their general interest in our available projects. But Jorge and Ritesh, maybe you have experience just in your classes or with your colleagues in terms of other offerings that you have taken advantage of. Yeah, so thank you for that question, Robert. Yeah, so when you are here at MIP in this program, you are not limited to only the capstone project or a certain number of projects. As I think Robert already explained, you can take electives from what all possible handouts we have here. And if you are capable enough, if you qualify the prerequisites, you can go ahead, discuss with the professor. If professor allows and Robert and Maria allows, you definitely can go ahead with any of the projects all across MIT. So you're not confined to only a certain number of projects within this program, but you can reach out to other programs' projects as well. The only thing is you need to qualify for the prerequisites for those programs and projects. Yeah. Yeah, also I resonate with Ritesh's answer. Yeah, that's true. We have different options. Also, just to build up from that answer, we have different certifications here. So we have analytical certification, we have sustainability, we have leadership certification, we have something relating to health certification. And when you follow that path, you have to do some kind of projects related to that topic. So also that's really interesting if you want to do more projects regarding other topics. Definitely, we'll increase your knowledge here. Yeah, that's true, and that's one of the great things about the program and about MIT is when your tuition covers, in theory, unlimited number of classes. The upper limit is just what Maria and I advise you on, but also that means that you can take classes throughout the campus so you're not limited as well. You're all limited by your imagination and the physical number of hours you have in a day. And also the mentorship program in which you have a mentor, in which you can pose your questions, the mentor can help you to connect with your motivations. So imagine that you are motivating for humanitarian projects because we have a strong lamp here. So then you can go to Dr. Jadon-Consult to say, yes, I want to connect here. So then he can help you to connect. He can maybe you can contribute to the lab if there is enough, I mean, interest in interest and bandwidth. So again, there are different ways here. And another great question that we have specific for our student ambassadors, assuming both if you have your MicroMasters degree or MicroMasters credential, what made you choose SCMR over SCMB? Was there any factor that waiting your decision making? Yeah, so I'll go ahead with that question. Thank you, Robert, again, for international students, specifically, I think it's, if you're looking for working in US, I think the qualification for STEM is that you should at least have 10 plus months of the academic experience here. And for that, I think residential program qualifies and blended doesn't. And also to focus as what Robert has confirmed that for residential program, minimum two years of experience is required. And I mean, it'll be adding value in your application process. And for blended, it's more of higher number of years of experience. Maybe Robert can elaborate more on that. But that's what I feel what differentiates between residential and blended. Yeah, for me, I have family, I have two children. So before I came here, we have to thought really, really to be sure about our decision. So I believe that we did the best decision. We made the best decision. So for me, it was like, if you wanna boost my career, nowadays we need global supply chain leaders. I mainly have my experience just in my country. So in order to scope, to widen my scope in supply chain, I was like, okay, I went to study as my tea and also I want to have that experience in the field, in the industry. So I want to take advantage of the OPT. I want to combine that, the theory, the practical with the real experience in the industry. So that for me was why I made the decision to do the residential program instead of the blended. Yeah. If I also, our career development office here offers career development for both programs, residential and blended. So then of course, then the OPT makes you in the US, more, I mean, definitely eligible. But then again, if you are thinking about looking for a job outside the US, definitely our alumni network is really strong, all over the world. Remember that our body proposition is to develop global leaders. So then again, we have alumni all over the world, Europe, Asia, I mean, Africa and the course US. So again, career development support is for both programs. Just to add to that, given a chance between spending 10 months in MIT versus four months in MIT, I would always use 10 months because you get to have more immersive experience here. So yeah, that's it. Yes. Also to add to Maria answer, yeah, we have a web page of alumni here at MIT. It's really, really useful. You can just fill your information and that's over where too much with different profiles and you can arrange meetings with people we're from, I don't know, for different companies, Google, Amazon, you name it. So they're very, very accessible and that's really great because they share with you all their experiences. They can give you advice. So the sense of community, as I said before, is really great. Great. And I think Maria commented just a little bit on our scale global network, but one question in particular was how does the curriculum relate across the different scale networks for applicants who may be considering applying to MIT but also our campus was in Zaragoza, Luxembourg and China. And actually Maria herself is probably an expert on that as she worked in Spain. So maybe you just have a comment on the scale global network. I was executive director of Zaragoza Research Center. So I know very well, they have been working hard to build the Zaragoza curriculum. So there are some similarities and some, I mean, special strengths in each of the programs, right? So it's not that one is better than another. So then in terms of Zaragoza, then they have common courses together with what we are teaching here in Boston. So then different also timelines. So then the degree is different is to come to Zaragoza and master of engineering. Here we, our master program is master of applied science in some particular cases, then you can take the master of engineering degree from our program here at MIT. But in some particular case, you need to do a thesis and be more applied research oriented than the master of applied, but you can do it as well. So again, different particular, I mean, elements. So for example, Zaragoza is very, very strong in the connection with industry in Europe and Switzerland and also UK, I mean, Spain. Again, so then again, some pros and cons. And then the degree is different, is compared by different institutions. So then, yeah, you can take a look to the scale website in order to see what are the pros of every program. Yeah. Excellent. Let's see any other questions to answer here. Well, one is just about machine learning and data science. Since we are an engineering program, I think that is an important question. What sort of experience might you need in order to join the program? What's learned here? And is there a preferred language or tool? I think there's opinions on all of those. Maria, maybe if you want to start. Yeah, yeah, of course. I mean, we don't want to be a master of analytics, right? We want to be a master in supply chain, but of course, in supply chain nowadays, you need analytics as a tool. So for example, then we are building our analytics curriculum when you start from the very, very, very beginning with the orientation. This kind of analytics bootcamp, which we are teaching Python. Our preferred language is Python. So we are building a compiton in terms of libraries, in terms of, for example, combining Python with global optimization, right? So then we cannot teach everything. So then we are more focused on Python. Why? Because the companies then prefer Python as the common language. But in some courses, for example, then I mean, in 260, then the coding is R. So there are different, again, courses that are building up on different coding. So then the question is, being a global leader, I am expecting to learn how to code, to code in Python. Our approach is that, at least, you need to acquire this language in order to communicate with your teams. Maybe you will have some data scientists' teams, members. So then you need to understand the language in order to be able to communicate. But maybe you will not be coding all the time. Or maybe then you are really willing to approach the analytics path, then you will be using more Python. Again, so this is our approach. But then we feel we believe on material learning analytics methods that help supply chain management in forecasting, in last mile delivery. This is a reality. It's being more and more present in the jobs right now. So this is why we want to build the knowledge. And you can build different parts. You can build on the math behind all these analytics. Or maybe you can build more on the applications of all the analytics. So we were aware that there are different, I mean, the stages in terms of analytics. Yeah. And then Jorge and Ritesh, from the student perspective, you two are probably both more prepared than most since you've taken the MicroMasters. But was there any things specific that helped you prepare for the program? Yes. I think I didn't do the MicroMasters. But yes, I did the SC0X module. And that really gave me a perspective of what to expect from this program, what kind of models are going to be taught. That's just a starting point, the SC0X. In particular, I think Python is one tool that I think before coming to this program, people should be aware of the student's need to learn it. When I say need to learn it, that doesn't mean you need to learn 100% of what Python is. But you should be aware of the interface. You should be aware of the typical statements, typical syntaxes, so that when you come here and when the courses are taught, the modules are being taught, it is easier for you to grab and digest it. Because here, since the program is 10 months, the program is not going to focus on how to use Python, but it is going to focus on how to implement your analytical skills with Python as a tool. So basics of Python is what it's one of the prerequisites also. Once you get into this program, you need to go through that. So I think if you start working on Python right from now, you'll be at a very better position while developing analytical skill sets here in these courses. Yeah, that's what I said. Thank you. From my side, I have never coded before. So for me, it's new. I am learning, but I resonate with Ritesh answer. It will be great if you can just take some introduction courses just to know the basic things of coding. And regarding the MicroMaster, it will be useful if you can take some courses from the MicroMaster. It's going to give you the foundation that is going to be useful. No further supply also for other elective courses that you want to take, because they provide you with a very diverse knowledge. So that will be great. But don't worry about coding. You have to understand just the logic behind, as always, as any software, as any formula. So don't worry about that. You will be fine. And actually, once you are accepted, we provide an online course just to enter to Python. So if you don't know Python, no worries. This is not going to limit absolutely your admission here. So then only we will equip you with some intro, right, in order just to be prepared. But then again, it's not the core, core, core of our program. Our core is about supply to management topics. And then you can customize your preference. So if you don't want to be strong with Python, no worries, right? And then definitely you will succeed here. And great. I think two final questions that I'll wrap it up with are just about student life from two of the viewers. One is, where do you live on campus and what experience have you had there? And then the other is, for those who might have families, how accessible is Cambridge? So I can comment a little bit on that one as well. But just in terms of your experience so far, Jorge and Pritash. I would like to go first, because I have to leave. I have a webinar regarding to the MicroMasters also. So the life here is great. As I said, I came with my family. We have a lot of activities here. We are living in MIT building. You have a lot of MIT buildings for families, for singles. Don't worry about the housing. You will find a housing here at MIT. Don't worry about that, because I was worried when I was before I came here. So yeah, the life here is amazing. You can do whatever you want here at Cambridge. So far, the weather is OK. So if you like to jogging, bike, we have a lot of sense of sports here, a lot of soccer fields, whatever you name it. You can do whatever you want here. So the life is here. Great. Yeah, sorry, guys, I have to leave. It was a pleasure to be here with you. No problem. And actually, we do have to wrap up the webinar now since we have another engagement after this. So Pritash, thank you for joining us, Will. So I will close out with just saying thank you with our contact information here. For anybody who has questions, feel free to always reach out to SCM-admissions, and we'll share this webinar on our website shortly. Thank you again, and good luck with your applications. Thank you very much. I would love to review your application. So please don't hesitate to ask questions, sign to apply to our program. Thank you. Bye.