Amcor invests US$10M in MSU School of Packaging to bolster future industry workforce

05 Aug 2021 --- Amcor has invested US$10 million in Michigan State University (MSU)’s School of Packaging – the largest investment in the history of the university’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, under which the School of Packaging sits. The investment will be used to help the school further its academic standards and enable facility upgrades.

Dr. Matt Daum, director of the MSU School of Packaging tells PackagingInsights the partnership is “one that we are looking to build upon.”

“There aren’t many places that train future packaging professionals, so working together we understand more about what the industry is looking for in future professionals and train students accordingly,” he details. 

“With the packaging industry working to solve several sustainability challenges, it is key that the next generation of packaging professionals have the skills required,” David Clark, Amcor’s vice president of sustainability also tells PackagingInsights.

He further views the investment as a means to bring together the School of Packaging’s academic expertise with Amcor’s real-world experience and capability – “helping to foster the boldest thinkers who will make ground-breaking advancements in responsible packaging.”

Whose responsibility?
The new partnership raises questions to what extent it is the private sector’s responsibility to fund public educational institutions. 

“In particular, in a program like ours, I think it benefits both parties,” answers Daum. On the one hand, he expects the investments to attract new students and faculty members. On the other hand, developing talent is “always a good idea.”

Multidisciplinary packaging sciences don’t always “fit neatly” into one particular college, nor receive similar attention as more traditional disciplines.Daum further views private and corporate investments in public universities as imperative in the “new normal” for public institutions like MSU. 

“The university’s increased dependence on tuition dollars is not adequate for long-term capital and faculty investment, especially for a growing industry like packaging.” 

The multidisciplinary nature
Providing students with a comprehensive packaging education is difficult enough, let alone securing funds. By nature multidisciplinary, packaging can sometimes be a challenge to fit neatly into one particular college, says Daum, or receive similar attention as more traditional disciplines. 

“Packaging also has a high degree of an applied science element, so generating funding from federal grants can be challenging compared to other more traditional science programs.”

“On the flip side, there is a tremendous opportunity for continued cross-functional collaboration with other university departments, especially for addressing practical grand challenges in the areas of more sustainable packaging solutions, food waste and pharmaceutical product delivery,” he adds.

Digitalization upgrades planned
Some of the planned facility upgrades include equipping the main lecture hall with state-of-the-art equipment and creating open-style labs and office arrangements for graduate students and faculty staff.

The funds will also supply central gathering spaces with adequate seating where students can plug in, work between classes and recharge their electronic devices.

The MSU School of Packaging building was last renovated in 1987 – before there were smartphones and laptops, Daum notes. “You can imagine the updates we’ve had even from a teaching perspective since then,” he remarks. 

“Michigan State has the first and oldest packaging program; we want to be a hub where some of the world’s biggest packaging challenges are solved,” says Daum.

What the extra funds will bring
These structural changes aim to reshape the School of Packaging’s curriculum. For example, the new lecture hall will allow much more group learning and modern “flipped classroom” approaches in the teaching delivery. 

“By moving away from fixed tables and chairs to a flexible space with video and digital communication technology, it will also encourage much more interaction and design thinking approaches,” Daum highlights. 

Michigan State has the first and oldest packaging program, says Daum.“More open-style labs for graduate students and faculty will lead to greater ideation and opportunities to solve packaging challenges.” 

Overall, the emphasis is placed on better preparing students for making immediate contributions to the packaging industry when they are hired.

Daum also eyes several fundamental research opportunities in key emerging areas such as bio-materials, recycling and end-of-life solutions, soft robotics, digital print technology and information systems linked across supply chains.

Future career prospects
In addition to attending career events, MSU anticipates Amcor and other packaging companies will become more involved in presenting and collaborating on packaging challenges.

“The industry is changing rapidly, and as a whole needs innovative thinkers and problem solvers. This partnership isn’t about filling any specific jobs, it is about supporting the best thought leaders of today, driving innovative thinking and helping prepare tomorrow’s leaders,” says Clark.

Amcor has had a “close relationship” with the School of Packaging for many years, Clark continues, noting the company has sat on advisory committees and regularly hires MSU alumni. “In fact, we currently have over 100 alumni working at Amcor.”

“The headquarters of Amcor Rigid Packaging is in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which is only an hour away, so we certainly hope that we can continue to have a presence on campus and provide career paths for alumni,” says Clark.

The move will also support the creation of an Endowed Chair of Packaging Sustainability to drive forward further research and innovation in the topic.

By Anni Schleicher