SLFFA Training Academy conducts online lectures during COVID-19

Monday, 29 June 2020 00:57 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

SLFFA launched an international class training academy on 18 November 2006. The Academy of international Trade and Transport (AITT) is the training arm of SLFFA. It is a body endorsed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) and an Accredited Training School (ATS) of International Air Transport Association (IATA). It is also a training institute approved by the Directorate of Merchant Shipping, Ministry of Ports and Aviation.

The main objective of AITT is to bring-in professional knowledge through its training courses which are based on an international curriculum supported by FIATA and UNESCAP. This will contribute to uplift the industry standards to international level in Sri Lanka and giving more opportunity to young people for developing a Logistics/Supply Chain Management career, in one of the most rapidly developing global industries, where supply chain solutions brings in a competitive edge in today’s global manufacturing and distribution sector.

AITT conducts 3 courses, namely, Foundation Course in Multi-Modal Transport and Logistics, targeted for school leavers and anyone who is keen to start a career in Logistics; Certificate Course in Freight Forwarding and Multi-Modal Transport, which is targeted for people who wishes to further their knowledge on the industry, and which is a requirement by the DMS to have minimum of 2 staff members qualified in this course as this program is approved by the DMS; and finally the FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding and Logistics, an international qualification for those who wish to pursue higher studies in the Freight Forward Industry. This certificate is recognised internationally.

Sri Lanka is facing a difficult period due to the COVID-19 pandemic which affected businesses regardless of its capacity. Each business organisation and even the education sector has been severely affected during this period.

Before the crisis affected the country, SLFFA commenced its courses for the year on Freight Forwarding and Multi-modal Transport under its flagship training institution; AITT. When the country went in to a lockdown, these lectures came to a halt however AITT made arrangements to avoid any disruptions to the training courses and immediately commenced online lectures through the Zoom platform. The response from the students is remarkable and this has helped students outstation to join as well. A total of over 100 students for all courses have attended lectures online with keen interest.

SLFFA hopes to expand its online lectures to reach out to those who are interested to acquire greater knowledge on the freight forwarding industry in outstation areas such as Trincomalee and Hambantota to name a few.

This pandemic has given SLFFA an opportunity to go beyond its scope of activities and hopes to do more for the betterment of the industry. For more information on the current courses of AITT please log in to www.slffa.com/training_academy