Higher Education and Professional Development in Purchasing and Supply Management

Discuss the role of higher education and professional development providers in the preparation of Purchasing and Supply Management professionals to meet the challenges of the profession in first quarter of this century. What, in your judgment, is the basic difference between attaining a degree or achieving certification in Purchasing and Supply Management? What, in your judgment, is the basic difference between attaining a Masters degree in Purchasing and Supply Management as opposed to completing a Masters Certificate in Purchasing and Supply Management? In both cases, take an employer's perspective.