The South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) has been accredited to present and award the prestigious FIATA Higher Diploma in Supply Chain Management.

Tony d’Almeida, director at SAAFF responsible for education, training and development, says, “This qualification is very relevant to the freight forwarding industry which is undergoing change and becoming increasingly central to the articulation of global supply chains.  SAAFF has therefore made the strategic decision to apply for accreditation of the FIATA Higher Diploma in Supply Chain Management to help alleviate the current critical shortage of people who not only know the process of supply chain, but can also apply their expertise in innovative ways that add value to the entire process.”

SAAFF was accredited following presentations to the FIATA Advisory Board on Vocational Training at the FIATA Congress in Singapore at the end of October.  SAAFF is effectively one of only 14 professional bodies around the world accredited to offer this industry-leading qualification.

SAAFF will be the custodian of the Higher Diploma which is pitched at NQF level 7, two levels higher than the FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding which SAAFF is also entitled to award in South Africa, and which has already produced 22 graduates.

The minimum requirement for consideration for entry into this Higher Diploma is a relevant university degree, anational diploma or the FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding. All SAAFF accredited training providers may offer this program to suitably qualified students.

d’Almeida adds, “This Higher Diploma is globally recognised and as such, will provide supply chain professionals with the training that will give them a far deeper understanding of the global and local supply chain landscape, and make them globally relevant and competent.  Aspects relating to global supply chains are constantly evolving, making it vital for every player to be at the forefront and fully aware of these trends in order to provide clients with relevant and current advice and guidance. Added to this, we are having to come to grips with rapidly evolving technology in our everyday business practices that, while bringing tremendous value to our operations, is coming at frightening speed and voracity.  Keeping ahead of the curve has never been this tough.  Being able to ratify skills against global standards and benchmarks brings enormous value to the business, the client and the individual.”

The launch of the course follows four years of intense planning of the local curriculum, which culminated in SAAFF being ratified at the annual FIATA world congress held in Singapore earlier this year.  FIATA is the global association to which most nationalassociations like SAAFF belong and functions as an overarching advisory body which assists with various aspects of the supply chain including vocational training.

For further information contact the SAAFF office (011) 455-1726or saaff@saaff.org.za.