"The IIFA FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding has been a crucial experience that has propelled my 6-year career in logistics and freight forwarding and has expanded my understanding in the freight forwarding sector in Ireland and Europe. The comprehensive curriculum gave a thorough understanding of the complexities of freight forwarding, international trade, customs rules, and supply chain management. Through practical case studies and real-world examples, I was able to apply my newly learned knowledge directly to my profession as Transport Coordinator, having an immediate influence on the efficiency and effectiveness of my day-to-day responsibilities."
Lais Chamarelli, Noel Howley Logistics, 2023 - 2024 Course
“The IIFA FIATA Diploma journey for me, was excellent. I had started working in the Freight sector for the first time six months previously so was new to Freight and Customs principles. This course was brilliant for me, as it went hand in hand with what I was doing in my day-to-day job. The learnings every month with the different modules enabled me to fully understand and gain competence and confidence to positively impact the performance of the company that I work for. I highly recommend this course and you won’t be disappointed by the delivery of the material and the high level of support from Grainne and Seamus”.
David Joyce, Irish Rail, 2023 – 2024 Course
"I found the course to be very well delivered. It was full of knowledge which was presented to me as the learner in a number of different way and really helped me to understand while also keeping my attention. The volume of information provided could be very intimidating, but I was supplied with all resources necessary to get the most out of the module and the course overall! There was always someone on hand to answer any question I had, and Grainne and Seamus were very accommodating in making alternative arrangements for completing mcq exams. I really appreciated the different ways of obtaining marks towards your final grade. As someone who wouldn’t be the most confident in written exams it really helped me to have the multiple choice questions and the assignments contribute to my overall grade."
Shauna Farrell, Sandford Group, 2021 - 2022 Course
"I thoroughly enjoyed taking the IIFA FIATA Diploma Course. Although I thought I had a fairly good handle on the topics before I took this course, I was proven wrong and was surprised by the many new and interesting concepts, and by the difference that the curriculum had on my knowledge and understanding of each topic. I am sure that I will use the learning from this course to help me carry out my job as a freight forwarder more effectively, and I am appreciative of all the work that Grainne and Seamus have put into this diploma course. I could not fault anything throughout this year and if anyone is thinking of doing this course, I would not think twice about it."
Megan Connolly, Quinn Freight Forwarding, 2021 - 2022 Course
"Having completed the IIFA FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding I can safely say I am very happy with the course, the presentation, modules covered, the wealth of information provided both in the physical manuals sent out each month and the online media (Videos, slides, learning checklists). The course as a whole was very engaging throughout and proved to be very manageable in the format in which it was presented.
With a background in Customs and Road Freight I found this course to compliment my existing knowledge and deeply broaden my understanding and respect of other fields in the industry. While there have been aspects, I have been aware of in other areas of transport this course provided in-depth knowledge to help understand the specifics involved at each step of each area in logistics and transport.
I was very happy with the quality of the manuals, study material and informative videos made available. The contents of the manuals were printed on high quality paper and the information was easy to read and understand. This has made the printed material ideal for revision and storage and the videos were very to the point and broken down into manageable sections which provided for an open approach for myself to work around my work schedule, free time, and study.
I can absolutely recommend the IIFA FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding for anyone who is at all interested in the industry whether new or has been involved in logistics for many years.
Needless to say I was very happy with the quality of the material, information provided and the flexibility the course allowed."
Laurence O’Connor, PalletXpress, 2021 - 2022 Course
“I was looking for a change in my life and enrolling on the Freight Forwarding course was one of the best decisions I have made in my career path. The course exceeded my expectations in many regards, is well structured and high-quality materials were provided. It was a challenge for me to study and work fulltime, however our coordinators Grainne and Seamus were always there to help. The support from tutors was first rate, while the course was well paced, and pitched at a level which allowed me to organise my study time. The feedback was excellent, straight forward with clear explanations and where we should focus more. I have learned a lot from the course and applying the knowledge day by day in my current job as a Logistics Coordinator. I am highly recommending this course for anyone who wants to develop and grow in this industry.”
Ana Lozovanu, Expeditors Ireland, 2021 - 2022 Course
"I recently completed the IIFA FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding. 20+ years in the trade & didn’t know as much as I thought! Grainne & Seamus have designed an excellent course through blended learning, with a series of modules that consist of easy to digest online webinars taken at your own pace, along with an assignment & online test at the end of each learning period. The modules are taken at monthly intervals, allowing you to immerse yourself in each subject, gaining practical knowledge that benefits work life immediately. Before each module begins, you’ll receive comprehensive study notes packed with subject matter. After each module is complete, you receive a set of model answers for your assignment allowing you to see where you did well, and where you can improve. This was invaluable.
I’m immensely proud to have achieved this industry recognised qualification through the IIFA. This diploma is a must for anyone in the freight forwarding industry regardless of experience. Blended learning was key, allowing me to study around work & family life with ease.
A professional, well designed course that was a thoroughly enjoyable experience from start to finish. It will enhance & further the careers of anyone who chooses to undertake it.
Thank you, Grainne & Seamus, for your time, guidance & support."
Eddie Mulholland, Uniserve Ireland Ltd, 2021 - 2022 Course
“I am delighted to have had the opportunity offered by my company (Manifests Ireland) to do the FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding.
I highly recommend this course to anyone who wishes to learn or upgrade their knowledge in the Logistics Industry for a better understanding and professional development.
As a foreign student in Ireland, one of my main goals was to develop and acquire deep knowledge in the field focusing on the European daily basis activities under a theoretical and practical structure which this course was able to provide me. Even though working full time and facing hardships during the course, I was able to conclude it successfully along with Grainne and Seamus’ great support for any question and help I had requested them.
I am looking forward to having the opportunity to do another IIFA course as all knowledge acquired is so valuable and it will help me through all my future career.”
Denise Kawakami, Manifests Ireland Limited, 2021 - 2022 Course
"I have just completed the IIFA FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding and I have to say I found it to be one of the most fulfilling and less stressful ones I have ever completed. This to me was mainly down to the professional way the IIFA (Grainne and Seamus) delivered the complete course and their engagement throughout. The timing and preparation for each Module’s and its layout was exceptional and made it a lot more manageable especially when one in full time employment where time can be the biggest challenge.
For one primarily involved in Road-freight it has broadened my own knowledge in all aspects of the freight industry from Airfreight Security, ADR Cargo, Insurance, Customs Duty, Calculation of rates and much, much more. The great thing about this course is that there are interesting video links within the modules e.g. “Life at Sea on container ship through the Suez Canal.” This gives you a real insight into this particular journey.
I cannot recommend this Diploma highly enough and would go as far as to say it’s a must for anyone within the industry or to anyone contemplating it as a career."
Kenneth McEneaney, Cardinal Logistics Ltd, 2020 - 2021 course
"So far, this course was the best educational experience in my life! Information was very well structured, useful and interesting, all materials sent on time, all questions answered promptly.
My objective for this course was to upgrade my knowledge for all modes of transport, get it in line with local requirements, ‘validate’ my logistics experience from another country for Irish employers. Before finishing the course, I got several job offers, including from leaders in the industry, so I could choose where I wanted to work.
Having a deep background in Airfreight I thought I wouldn’t learn something new in an airfreight module, but I discovered vital things about liabilities that can make a big change in case of a claim.
Excellent course! If IIFA offers other courses I will be the first one to attend"
Oxana Korkunova, Private Enrolment, 2020 - 2021 course
"I would highly recommend the FIATA diploma course to anyone who wishes to learn and educate themselves further on the broad and varied subject of Freight Forwarding.
I am currently employed as Shipping and Logistic Specialist for a Software company in Galway with over 4 years’ experience so far in this sector of work, starting in Pharma then Medical Device and then onto my current role.
I was a bit worried at first about taking up this course as I had no prior experience in study or exams of any kind really since leaving Secondary School, but any reservations or doubts I had were quickly diminished once the course began as both Seamus and Grainne in the office were so helpful, approachable, honest and informative regarding any queries or concerns I may have had.
The blended learning format really helped as I was able to prioritise and set aside time to study and complete assignments when it best suited me. Each month we received a new module and webinar to cover which were all jam packed with so much valuable and interesting content, each module different than the other with clear and to the point information that I will continue to use going forward in my day-to-day professional life. I cannot stress enough how impressive the course content was overall, so much to learn and take from each different module it was quite impressive to see so much was compiled for us each month.
I have honestly learned so much this past year and have gained such valuable knowledge that I cannot recommend this course enough, it has been a challenging but extremely enjoyable experience overall. I have gained extra confidence both professionally and academically that will last a lifetime, I look forward to working with and learning with the IIFA again in the near future again someday, I hope."
David Garry, Aspect Software, 2020 - 2021 course
"I have been working in the transport industry for over ten years and signing up to the FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding was one of the best decisions in my career.
The flexible structure of the course is a huge plus and its relevant learning content has broadened my knowledge across many areas of the transport and logistic industry in terms of safety regulations; responsibility of goods in transit (Incoterms) + the legal and commercial impact they have; and awareness of how different freight channels are cost estimated in terms of pricing methods. Probably the most current learning area is gaining the knowledge of how BREXIT impacts us and what Customs and Excise duties may apply.
This is very important as our customers rely on our advice to mitigate against any commercial and transport risk and ensure that their goods are delivered in the most efficient manner.
The course itself is very manageable whilst in full time employment and Grainne and Seamus (the Facilitators) were always available for advice and to answer queries. The blended learning structure of the course allowed me the flexibility to complete the modules when it suited me.
I really enjoyed this course and now I am now part of the select cohort that have completed this industry recognised Diploma in Freight Forwarding. I would highly recommend this course to anybody working in the transport and logistics industry."
Jacek Gabryś, Hyland Shipping, 2020 - 2021 course
"I decided to do the FIATA in Freight Forwarding in August 2020. I had started in a new role where I used Freight Forwarders a lot, but I had only a basic idea of what they did, and all of the procedures and terms involved with the different modes of transport confused me.
The information contained in the folders was up to date, valid and written in a way that explained everything simply and clearly. The monthly webinars enhanced the written content and went through all calculations simply and clearly, but they weren't so long that you would get distracted too easily either. Assignments were practical and very doable, and the monthly MCQ tests were very fair, especially since they were open book tests.
Grainne was always happy to answer any queries that I had with assignments, and getting the model answers back when the results were issued was handy for seeing where I had gone wrong. She gave feedback to the group when she saw a trend and she always made the effort to provide clear explanations. The office was happy to help when I needed an extension during a module, and I felt, and still feel, like they were genuinely happy to help, encourage and support us.
What I have learned over the last 10 months has made me so much better at my job, and I have created excellent relationships with my Forwarders because I now know what they need from me.
I would highly recommend the FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding to anyone in the industry."
Sinead Cronin - Private Enrolment, 2020 - 2021 Course
"This course should be a must for everyone related with the cargo transportation world. This program is directed toward the professional sphere as it has a theoretical and a practical part in which we had to complete real documents and exercises applicable in the daily work of a Freight Forwarder, all of this accompanied by two professionals, Grainne and Seamus, who have not hesitated to offer their help and answer all of our questions at any moment.
I consider this program is complete due to the amount of material covered and the structure divided in clear and concise Modules in which we learned all the essential material for developing the work of a FF. As it is an online course it is perfect to study it at the most suitable time and permits to combine it with a job as in my case. It is endorsed by the FIATA association which guarantees international acceptance and an excellent academic level.
I absolutely recommend studying this IIFA FIATA Diploma to everyone wanting to work in logistics or if you already are working in the sector but you want to improve your knowledge in international cargo transport.
I can only conclude that this course has far exceeded my expectations!"
Anais Noemie Angel, United Air & Sea Freight Services, 2019 – 2020 course
"When I started working for my company, I didn't have any previous experience in Freight Forwarding. Everything I know I learned on the job. The course was a great way to fill the gaps and also get a better understanding of the subject. Modules such as Road Transport, Maritime, Logistics, Multimodal and Liabilities are full of information that I use on a day-to-day basis.
The course was divided into multiple modules. For each module a folder with notes was mailed to my home. It was up to me to study in my own time so there is great flexibility when and how much you work and what you want to do. You also receive some 'homework' that is related to the current subject and is great as a revision tool before the multiple-choice test at the end of each month. There were a number of times I wasn't able to do the online test on the schedule date but I was allowed to reschedule.
We also received video presentations and slideshows containing the key elements of each Module.
The course definitely wasn't easy and it took quite a bit of effort, but thanks to all the support I never really felt overwhelmed. I would personally recommend dedicating about 1-2 hours a night and the workload becomes very manageable.
I highly recommend this course for anyone who just started working in Transport or has previous experience but wants to get a much better understanding of the subject."
Michal J. Zurakowski, Capital Transport and Shipping, 2019 – 2020 course
“The FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding is one of the best courses I have ever undertaken. I cannot recommend the course highly enough, especially for anyone wishing to get a start in the industry or just looking to improve on their general industry knowledge. The course covers all aspects of our industry in sufficient detail to give participants a higher level of confidence when advising their clients and managing those complex shipments and operation issues we encounter from time to time. The modules on Customs, Dangerous Goods and Insurance were of particular interest in that regard.
Our Clients rely on our guidance and expertise as Freight Forwarders to protect their cargo interests, having the knowledge to advise them correctly is critical to service delivery and Client retention.
In my opinion this course, delivered professionally by the IIFA on behalf of FIATA, establishes a high standard for our industry worldwide.”
Conor Ward – Wells Cargo Logistics Ltd, 2018 - 2019 course
“I chose the Freight Forwarding Diploma as I am interested in international transportation however, even if I am working in the related industry I felt that I needed education in this area to be able to plan my career and know more about industry and different directions to grow.
I was pretty committed to this course. I planned to do it 2 years prior. I dedicated a year of most of my time to take as much from this course as possible. This is an internationally recognized diploma, and is surprisingly inexpensive given the quality of content and the accreditation itself. I chose it as it offers working knowledge into different modes, international legislation, conventions which otherwise is difficult to find on your own, online. Its a very condensed and fast paced distance learning course. We had multiple choice tests and small practical projects at 4 week intervals, and I feel like after finishing it that it gave me the same amount of knowledge or more than the full time bachelors degree which I completed a few years previous.
I am already using the knowledge from this course in my work and it makes me more professional and confident about it. I would recommend this course to anyone involved in shipping or logistics in any way shape or form as it offers a complete understanding of the processes involved start to finish. It will give you a broad understanding of the freight industry and open doors to a lot of different career paths that you may have never considered.”
Agnieszka Labocha – Private Enrolment with 2018 - 2019 course
"It can be a difficult and nervous decision to return to education at a later stage in life. You find yourself questioning whether or not you will be able for the heavy content involved and whether you will have the time to fit in the required study along with your everyday life.
But this wasn’t the case with the IIFA FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding.
No different from any form of education, I was expected to put in the study required to pass my assessments and final exams. The big difference with the IIFA FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding was the help and assistance provide throughout the entire course. Both Grainne and Seamus were always at the end of phone call or extremely quick to reply to an email with any query I had.
The breakdown of the course into individual modules also helped spread out the content. With each module came an assignment and online exam. I found the assignments very interesting and set around what would actually be required in the everyday role of a Freight Forwarder. Each module also came with an extremely easy to follow and well laid out manual. And lastly, and what I believe to be the most helpful, was an online webinar that compressed the content of the module and hugely assisted with both the online exams and assignments.
In brief, I really enjoyed the course entirely, especially since I was very nervous at the beginning and was unsure how the year would go. But the fantastic layout of the course, along with the professionalism, assistance and reassurance from both Grainne and Seamus throughout really settled me into a busy, but enjoyable year."
Paul Halpin, Defence Forces Ireland, 2018 - 2019 course
"The IIFA FIATA Diploma Course I felt would add nicely to my Logistics experience to date. Course Facilitators, Seamus and Grainne presented a friendly, helpful and professional demeanor. Their willingness to assist throughout was inspiring; they were always on top of things. I found the Course interesting and the overall experience a lot less stressful than some previous courses undertaken. I would recommend this course and its facilitators highly."
Edward Cronin, 2017 - 2018 IIFA FIATA Diploma course
"I would highly recommend anyone in the Logistics industry to do this course no matter how long you have been in the industry. I learned so much in the year and with this knowledge came greater confidence in myself and my abilities.
The course is laid out in a way to encourage you to study and even though it’s an online course the team in the IIFA make you feel that your part of a group and are very available and helpful with any questions or queries.”
Eileen Healy, Logistics Coordinator, Seabridge Ltd, 2015 – 2016 IIFA FIATA Diploma course
“The IIFA course is a course I would highly recommend, it is flexible and structured very well. It introduces key components such as Customs, Letters of Credit, Insurance, Inco terms, Calculations and Warehousing Logistics fundamentals. From the online tutorials, webinars and examinations run each month, students gain a clear understanding on how to maximize efficiency for clients and enhance profitability in the freight forwarding business. The new skills and knowledge I obtained are shared in my day to day Business with both Customers and my own Team Members. The level of supervision and support from IIFA (Seamus and Grainne) was exceptional. I found the course to be a challenging and enjoyable experience and would have no hesitation at all in recommending IIFA to others wishing to extend their knowledge within the Freight Forwarding Industry.”
Grace McMahon, Air Ocean Manager, Aramex Ireland Ltd, 2015 – 2016 IIFA FIATA Diploma course
