A new class of African students are now learning about international trade and supply chains on a new qualification developed by the Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT) in partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC).
IOE&IT was founded in the UK but now has offices in five countries – including Kenya – and delivers qualifications to students globally. In 2022 the IOE&IT had over 100 African students on its educational programmes.
Induction
At an induction ceremony held online yesterday (6 March), IOE&IT and ITC welcomed students from Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe onto the new one-year Level 3 Certificate in International Trade.
IOE&IT and ITC have already been delivering a Level 4 Diploma in International Trade to students in Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria for the past three years.
IOE&IT director of strategic projects and international development Kevin Shakespeare spoke at the induction, introducing the new cohort of students to the course’s content and announcing that they will receive a year’s student membership with the IOE&IT to support their learning.
‘Become advocates’
“IOE&IT would like to extend a warm welcome to the new cohort of level 3 students,” said Shakespeare. “We very much want the new students to enjoy the learning and to become advocates for the educational programme in their own countries.”
“In addition to the qualifications, the new students are also being given one year’s membership with the IOE&IT,” he added. “This allows students to access additional support and resources to support their learning.”
‘Stepping stone’
The new level 3 course is being introduced as a “stepping stone” for students wishing to take the level 4 qualification, according to Shaun Lake, the director of the ITC’s SME Trade Academy.
“There were two important steps we were able to take with this new course,” said Lake. “To open the programme to more people through different entry requirements and we’ve also invited Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania to join the existing countries already participating – Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana.”
Partnership
IOE&IT and ITC have partnered with export promotion agencies across Africa to deliver the new level 3 course, including:
- Kenya Export Promotion & Branding Agency (KEPROBA)
- Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC)
- Uganda Export Promotion Board (UEPB)
- Zambia Development Agency (ZDA)
- ZimTrade in Zimbabwe