DEVELOPMENT OF ACTIVE TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL METHODS IN LOGISTICS Oksana Soshko, Yuri Merkuryev, Galina Merkuryeva and Jana Bikovska Riga Technical University Department of Modelling and Simulation 1, Kalku Street, Riga, LV-1658, Latvia http://www.itl.rtu.lv/mik KEYWORDS Logistics, information systems, training, case study, simulation games, simulation-supported training ABSTRACT The paper deals with description of integrated exploitation of simulation, case-studies and business games-based technologies for teaching logistics management, referring to the best practices at leading world-wide logistics companies, using the latest developments in logistics management and taking into account specifics of Latvian economic situation. INTRODUCTION Despite the comparatively high education levels among Latvian employess, there is still a lack of knowledge and practical skills crucial for competitiveness in market based economy. In order to ensure relevance of the qualifications and adaptability in the fast changing enivnronment, training and re-training have a special importance. In today environment, companies need people who are flexible, team workers, good communicators and learners. Effective training is a key in delivering this type of workforce. In this context, regions are more suffered from a low level of training both in higher and continuous education. Recent developments in information technology and telecommunications call for a serious reconsideration of the actual training methods and provide a wide opportunities for developing a new educational methodology. RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES Department of Modelling and Simulation (DMS) of Riga Technical University was founded in October, 1993 at the RTU Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology on the basis of wide experiences in both education and research in the area of modelling and simulation of complex systems, already accumulated at the faculty by that time. The department is a basic unit for the Latvian Simulation Society. Among the international events, about six international conferences were held on the basis of the department during the period 1996-2005. The Latvian Center of the SCSI McLeod Institute of Simulation Sciences (MISS) operates on the basis of the department. The main directions of DMS research activities are related to application of discrete-event simulation in different industries, mainly manufacturing and logistics, as well as simulation-based training. Figure 1. Courses and tools In the context of education activities, the department teaches various courses in modelling and simulation, including domain-oriented courses, concerning application of modelling and simulation in different areas (e.g., transport, logistics, economics). Master- and Engineer-level Curriculum "Industrial Logistics Management" is launched at the department in 1998. It is arranged within the TEMPUS project "Industrial Logistics Management" of the European Training Foundation, with the University of Ghent (Belgium) and the University of Karlsruhe (Germany) as Western European project partners. 1