FIATA DIPLOMA

International trading companies and customers are demanding that freight forwarders should transform from their traditional roles as agents into global logistics partners. Whilst forwarders will still have freight forwarding as their core activity they will offer value added services in order to grow their enterprises.

It is becoming a reality that “You cannot have the one (freight forwarding) without providing the other (integrated logistics)”. Traditional forwarding companies have recognized the need to become facilitators of supply chain solutions for customers and to be more proactive. Thus, forwarding agents have to develop the appropriate intellectual capital required in order to provide the necessary supply chain integration capabilities being demanded by customers.

This provides opportunities for individuals who have acquired academic qualifications in logistics and related disciplines to use their strategic capabilities to operate at managerial level in freight forwarding organizations and to participate in the transformation of traditional freight forwarders into international supply chain integrators.

To be able to do this effectively the graduate needs to acquire a comprehensive oversight of the workings of the freight forwarding company as well as practical skills in a number of operational areas.

The purpose of this program is to provide a structure for freight forwarders to acquire the necessary practical competencies to operate in global freight logistics domains. By combining the strategic abilities acquired in their academic studies with the practical forwarding competencies acquired through this programme, such individuals will be able to manage a wide range of freight forwarding functions. They will also be able to add value to the strategic planning required to build on the freight forwarders core functions in creating structures which will provide customers with the integrated management of international supply chains they need.

In addition, those completing this programme will qualify for the Diploma in Freight Forwarding which is awarded by the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA)

a) Easy to work transition

The success of UFFA’s training is mirrored in the success of our trainees. We want to help you achieve your personal and professional goals through our comprehensive training programs, which will assist you from the first day of enrolment to your entrance into the workforce.

Trainees will learn from industry-experienced and FIATA certified instructors in a manner that is flexible and will allow for personalized learning and experience sharing. This will ensure that trainees get the individual attention that they need, when they need it, and in an intimate classroom community.

Trainees will also have the opportunity to apply their skills during a practicum placement in a real workplace. This will be invaluable during your job search or even career progression. Trainees will also learn the essential skills to search for and obtain employment to help you transition smoothly from trainee to worker.

b) Great opportunities for graduates

Recent developments in this industry have created opportunities for graduates in logistics and related fields to build on their academic achievements through a structured program designed to give them the practical abilities required to launch a career in this growing industry.

All businesses today must face the prospect that each product or service that they provide, no matter how sophisticated, will sooner or later become commoditized. Products or services will be bought as generic items by customers who are interested in little beyond price and quantity. Customers will also be largely indifferent about who actually supplies the product or service unless it is delivered with additional value.

Minimum Requirement

• EACFFPC or its equivalent as approved by Uganda Freight Forwarders Association
• Atleast 3-years of active and professional practice in the freight logistics industry

In acquiring the FIATA Diploma you achieve the following objectives:

• You gain an international qualification which is recognized as the professional standard throughout the world of freight forwarding
• You gain the practical ability to operate competently in a wide variety of operational areas within the freight forwarding industry. These are in themselves very marketable skills
• You place yourself in a good position for rapid promotion provided you have shown the right leadership qualities and fit in to the culture of your employer organization
• You can combine these practical skills with your academic knowledge in adding value to strategic decision-making processes aimed at providing integrated logistics and supply chain management solutions to customers.

The FIATA Diploma is broken down into two courses i.e. Freight Forwarding Practice (FFP) and Customs Legislation and Procedures (CLP).

Semester 1 (Freight Forwarding Practice) 

• Module: 1- An Introduction to Freight Forwarding (32 hrs)
• Module: 2 – Sea Transport, Maritime Containers & Inland waterways (48 hrs.)
• Module: 3 – Multimodal Transport (24 hrs.)
• Module: 4 – Air Transport (32 hrs.)
• Module: 5 – Road Transport (24 hrs.)
• Module: 6 – Rail Transport (20 hrs.)
• Module: 9 – Warehouse, Distribution & Storage (28 hrs)

Semester 2 (Customs Legislation & Procedures)

• Module: 7 – Customs Procedures (33 hrs.)
• Module: 8 – Logistics & Supply Chain Management (28 hrs.)
• Module: 10 – Insurance (12 hrs.)
• Module: 11 – Dangerous Goods (24 hrs.)
• Module: 12 – Safety & Security’s (12 hrs.)
• Module:13 – Information & Communications Technologies in Forwarding (12 hrs.)
• Module: 14 – Logistics & The Law (24 hrs)

MODULAR APPROACH (4-6 months)

MADATORY MODULES

• Module 1: Introduction to Freight Forwarding
• Module 11-  Dangerous Goods
• Module 14: Logistics and the Law

ELECTIVE MODULES  

• Module 2 – Sea Transport, Maritime Containers and Inland Water-Ways
• Module 3 -Multi-Modal Transport
• Module 4 -Air Transport
• Module 5 -Road Transport
• Module 6 –  Rail Transport
• Module 7 –  Customs Procedures
• Module 8 –  Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Module 9 –  Warehousing, Distribution & Storage
• Module 10 – Insurance
• Module 12 – Safety and Security
• Module 13 – ICT In Forwarding

The FIATA Diploma is divided into 2 programs, that is;

1. Full Diploma – 12 months, inclusive of the on-job training
2. Modular program – 4 to 6 months. However, this is relative to the number of electives that the applicant decides to take on at a time.

FIATA Diploma Class Sessions 

The class programmes that we provide for you includes

• Evening Class (Weekdays)

Monday – Friday (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM)

• Weekend Class

Saturday (1:30 PM – 5:30 PM) & Sunday (8:30 Am – 12:30 PM)

Finalization and Awarding of the FIATA Diploma: The Dissertation/ Case study

Having been declared competent against all the unit standards in each of the two semesters, the trainee will be required to do an on-job training for two (2) months. These will be assessed upon completion of a dissertation in relation to their field of training. The Diploma will be awarded to all those that have completed the entire program.