2020 has taken opportunities away from everyone. Yet, as the proverb goes, where there’s a will, there’s a way and the Graduates of the 2019 – 2020 IIFA FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding certainly took that to heart.
National COVID19 restrictions prevented IIFA from hosting its annual Graduation Ceremony for its IIFA FIATA Diploma Class Group. Nevertheless, on the evening of Wednesday 14th October 2020, a small number of Graduates gathered via Zoom Cloud Meetings to hold an intimate celebration to mark their success.
In total, there were 24 Graduates who attained the FIATA Diploma through study with IIFA across August 2019 – July 2020. Their study covered modules on Sea, Air and Road Freight, with the academics of each given equal measure to assignments based on industry documentation and procedures such as rate calculation and cargo planning. Primarily a distance learning programme, COVID19 made no impact on the delivery of the course when Ireland entered a state of Lockdown in March 2020. Training manuals continued to be delivered via post and training was communicated via on-demand webinars, as it has been done since 2011. What is more remarkable is that, as highlighted by IIFA Executive Officer Seamus Kavanagh on the night, “the number of Participants that dropped out or even asked for a deferment of work in response to the pressures of COVID was 0.”
The 2019 – 2020 Class Group showed true resilience and a commitment to their work, which is reflective of the Industry they represent. Freight and Logistics is a demanding role at any time and under the pressures of 2020, these 24 Individuals were under even more pressure as they performed their operations from make-shift workstations in their own homes, working longer hours yet doing their part to keep Irish Businesses and Society operating as normally as possible. Participants with this Group came from Member Freight Forwarding and Customs Brokerage Businesses of IIFA, Defence Forces Ireland and Private Individuals who wished to seek entry into the industry.
Within IIFA, the Association thanks Amanda, Anthony, Michal, Natalie, Nicola and Slava for taking the time out to mark the Graduation of the 2019 – 2020 Class Group. A 2020 Graduation photo taken viz Zoom Cloud Meetings can be a fitting time capsule of this period in history and, as stated by Amanda on the night, “it’s something good to come out of something bad.”
Congratulations to the 2019 – 2020 IIFA FIATA Diploma Class Group.
IIFA continues to deliver the FIATA Diploma course, with 43 persons currently studying with the Association as part of the 2020 – 2021 Group which commenced its training on 26th August 2020.
For more information on the IIFA FIATA Diploma course, please click here.
A full list of Graduates through this programme can be viewed by clicking here.
