ICC Academy and SUSS announce 100% pass rate for International Trade programme

Singapore, June 29, 2020 – The first undergraduate cohort of the Singapore University of Social Sciences’ International Trade Management programme received a 100% pass rate on their ICC Academy Export/Import Certificate (EIC) exam. This accomplishment showcases the strength of the certificate programme and the drive of students looking to gain opportunity in the post-COVID-19 world.

The current global health crisis has brought substantial uncertainly to the trading world.  With global growth predicted to fall by 3% in 2020 and countries veering into protectionist or uncooperative trade policies, the road ahead is likely to be a challenging one. The question now is: are we preparing our future workforce to face the other side of the pandemic?

As the educational arm of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the ICC Academy works to build the capabilities of practitioners, including global trade students, by equipping them with the knowledge and know-how needed to successfully break into international markets.

In February this year, the ICC Academy fused a five-year partnership with SUSS, incorporating the EIC programme as a compulsory component of the University’s International Trade Management minor programme.

Commenting on the announcement, Managing Director of the ICC Academy Daniel Kok said: “In just over three months, the International Trade Management programme’s first cohort, comprising 25 students, have not only achieved a 100% pass rate in its EIC exams, but have also scored very high percentages overall. This is commendable on the students’ part, as they completed the programme in a very short span, paving the way for the next cohort.”

Commenting on the students’ success, Associate Professor Tan Yan Weng, Head of the Logistics and Supply Chain Management programme at the SUSS’s School of Business said: “The International Trade Management programme – developed in collaboration with Enterprise Singapore and aligned with Skills Future Framework – has been created as an industry response for functional skillsets in the wholesale trade sector. We are delighted to have partnered with the ICC Academy and incorporated the Export/Import Certificate within our curriculum.”

Dr. Yap Wei Yim, Head of the International Trade Management Minor at the SUSS’s School of Business added: “The EIC programme offered our students a foundational understanding of key concepts and theories in the context of international trade operations. By analysing current logistics operations and trade practices, students acquired a thorough knowledge of the global trade landscape: from fundamental principles and logical sequence of processes in international trade operations to documentation used for international carriage of goods by air, ocean, land and multi-modal transport and more. By completing the certification, I am confident that our students are now ready to apply these techniques in the real world, while conducting trade operations, as well as being proficient with technological developments that affect wholesale trade. Congratulations to the first batch of students for completing the programme with very high scores.”

The ICC Academy took the opportunity to speak with Aw Hui Sen, a SUSS’s International Trade Management programme graduate, who scored 98% in her EIC exam. To take a look into her learning journey, read the full interview with Ms Aw in the below Appendix.

Comprising five e-courses, the ICC Academy’s EIC programme was developed by leading trade expert Guillermo Jimenez. Mr Jimenez is also the author of ICC’s best-selling publication The ICC Guide to Export/Import: Global Standards for International Trade.

Responding to an ICC Academy survey conducted in 2019, 88% of EIC programme participants said the certification helped them to bridge their knowledge gap.

To learn more and/or to register for the Export/Import Certificate, please visit the programme page.


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About the Singapore University of Social Sciences
SUSS is a university with a rich heritage in providing lifelong, learner-centric and industry-relevant education.  Our mission is to champion lifelong education to develop future thinkers and leaders to their fullest potential through our 3H’s education philosophy – ‘Head’ for professional competency with applied knowledge, ‘Heart’ for social awareness of the needs of the society, and ‘Habit’ for passion towards lifelong learning.

We offer more than 70 undergraduate and graduate programmes, available in full- and part-time study modes which are flexible, modular and multi-faceted in learning experience to cater to both fresh school leavers and adult learners. We also launched a broad range of continuing education and training modular courses for the professional skills and knowledge upgrading of our workforce.

Our programmes and courses are made available through our five schools:

  • S R Nathan School of Human Development
  • School of Business
  • School of Humanities and Behavioural Sciences
  • School of Law
  • School of Science and Technology

To date, over 30,000 graduates have chosen SUSS as their university of choice. Each year, about 15,000 students are pursuing their full- and part-time studies with us.

From 1 April 2019, the Institute for Adult Learning (IAL) became an autonomous institute of SUSS. Both entities enable a synergistic collaboration as IAL brings to SUSS its expertise and experience in adult learning and Continuing Education and Training (CET), while SUSS provides an ecosystem of resources and experts rooted in academic rigour.

For more information on SUSS, please visit www.suss.edu.sg

APPENDIX
The learning journey: In conversation with our International Trade Programme graduate Aw Hui Sen

Singapore, 1 July 2020: In February, the ICC Academy signed a five-year partnership with the  Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). The agreement incorporated the educational arm of the International Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) Export/Import Certificate (EIC) as a compulsory component of the University’s International Trade Management Minor programme.

The first cohort achieved a 100% pass rate in the EIC exam. To discuss the success of the students, we took the opportunity to speak with SUSS graduate Aw Hui Sen who scored 98% in her EIC exam.

Discover her learning journey and career goals in international trade.

Q. How did you develop interest in international trade and the SUSS programme?

While doing my major in supply chain management, I developed a keen interest in sea and air freight management. The interesting subjects within the programme on the academic side and increased emphasis on the global supply chain by companies on the practical front, intrigued me.

To dive deeper, I did my internship with Philips Electronics Singapore, a leading health and technology firm, where I worked within their Freight and Distribution department. With guidance and supervision, I gained on-the-ground knowledge of how to work with stakeholders from countries around the world and understand the scope of international trade. They included the development and significance of the global trade system to marketing and purchasing, as well as the movement of goods in the international supply chain and risk management.

Both the academic courses and practical training helped me understand the international trade landscape better and now more than ever, I am determined to pursue a career in global trade.

Q. ICC Academy’s EIC is a compulsory component of SUSS’s International Trade Management programme and you scored 98% in your exam. Tell us how this programme will benefit you once you graduate?

The EIC has certainly deepened my understanding of how to conduct cross-border transactions. Comprising five e-courses -- International Trade Overview, Business Transactions and Contracts, Financing and Security Devices, International Logistics and Sourcing and Global Business Management – the programme has helped me grasp the essential skills required to effectively trade and manage an international business,  from negotiating contracts to resolving cross-border disputes. The lessons within the e-courses were presented in a concise and interactive manner. The presentation helped me absorb and visualise the overall processes involved in global trade.

As a fresh graduate with no prior working experience, the EIC has equipped me with the basic knowledge, current trends and practices of international trade, as well as provided me with a competitive edge to enter the workforce.

Q How do you think you will implement your learning into practice?

The topics covered within EIC lessons were comprehensive and can be applied to a wide range of jobs across various industries, even those not directly related to global trade.

For instance, the application of cross-cultural management and communication is critical for all industries in today’s VUCA economy. I also learnt the importance of documents and contracts regardless of industry. Hence, I am sure the hard and soft skills gained through this programme will help me in my career.

Q. What made the EIC programme unique?

The EIC is well-designed and user-friendly. The ICC Academy’s easy interface and portal navigation, along with the interactive aspect of the e-courses that include video lectures, narrated animations and a searchable and printable glossary containing all the key terms made learning very smooth for me.

Moreover, I loved the perfect balance of content and visuals used within each lesson. The information was not overwhelming and helped me understand and remember things with ease.

To top it all, the programme is offered by the world business organisation, the International Chamber of Commerce, which will definitely give me a distinctive edge when I enter the job market.

Q. Which part of the EIC programme was your favourite?

My favourite part was the lesson on Process Maps in Trade Finance. Given that there are numerous trade financing methods, processes differ. As a non-finance student, it is challenging to differentiate between financing methods, especially when these approaches are quite similar, with only small differences. The EIC programme helped me have a better understanding and clarity.

I also enjoyed the 15 case studies provided within the programme; I feel this will go a long way in helping me apply the theoretical learning in the real world.

Q. Finally, career aspirations, what and where do you want to be since you’ve just graduated?

I would like to manage regional or international transactions and work in regional procurement field such as sourcing and contract management as well as negotiation or even as a Material and Distribution Planner.

Q. A real life grind: If you had been working in the international trade industry today, in the current COVID-19 situation, what would have been your priority areas?

If I were working in the international trade industry and faced with a pandemic situation, my focus would be on two things: survival while the pandemic lasts, and making sure the company does not bear any loss.

If my suppliers are in a country experiencing severe disruptions due to the crisis, I would have identified alternative supply sources in countries that are less affected. Although the cost may be relatively higher than the incumbent supplier, the advantage of preventing supply chain disruption far outweighs the additional costs incurred.

A less disrupted flow of goods would give my company the opportunity to recover both the fixed and variation costs incurred and achieve a break even faster.

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