Local training finds global acceptance

Modules meet FIATA criteria “IT’S A feather in the cap of South Africa that a training delivery platform developed in this country will be adopted for world wide use by a leading forwarder like Kuehne & Nagel,” says Janine Merrick, Kuehne & Nagel’s regional quality and training manager. Over the past year Kuehne & Nagel and several other forwarders have started using a training system developed by Global Trade Training (GTT), which was established to fill the gap when MITB (Maritime Institute Training Board) was absorbed into the Transport SETA. Kuehne & Nagel was so excited by the system, which can be used by any learner irrespective of location, that the company invited its corporate head of training to evaluate it. “This led to a demonstration to Kuehne & Nagel’s corporate training committee at the organisation’s corporate HQ in Switzerland. As a result K&N, in partnership with GTT, is developing courses customised to our company’s corporate needs,” says Merrick. The modules also meet FIATA Diploma criteria so that learners on the course will also be studying towards an internationally recognised qualification. In South Africa Kuehne & Nagel is implementing a culture of training. Over 53 learners have been enrolled on the GTT system, and selected employees are being enrolled on extensive management, financial and other business skills training. “At the end of the day Kuehne & Nagel South Africa’s degree of professional skills will be an example to our organisation and will benchmark us within the forwarding industry as a whole,” said Merrick.