The GMLS advertorial in the 2 December edition of FTW makes interesting reading. If correct, it confirms that an article published by FTW some two years ago in which Saaff claimed the Fiata Diploma was available in South Africa, was seriously misleading. Thanks to GMLS for putting the record straight. But is GMLS saying that industry has to wait until the expected validation of training material in October 2012 before employees can study for the Fiata qualifications? I must admit, representatives of the F&C Chamber of Teta have given me the impression that successful completion of the NQF Level 3 Freight Forwarding and Clearing qualification and its NQF Level 4 equivalent would qualify students to attempt the Fiata dissertation. Passing this final written test, set and adjudicated in Geneva, would then result in the award of a Fiata Diploma. I recently interviewed a young man who had been found competent by training company, Metro Minds, at NQF level 3, and was looking forward to doing the NQF Level 4 subjects as the next step to a Fiata Diploma. He certainly was not expecting to enrol with GMLS to do the “four additional modules”. It is also concerning that the advertorial suggests that GMLS has a preferential position with Saaff on supply chain management teaching. There are many institutions that offer this training and it is a pity that Saaff has not engaged itself with the Universities of Pretoria and Johannesburg. University training is curriculum-based and avoids the pitfalls and bureaucracy associated with unit standards. Chris Richards, industry consultant.
