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GIFF Online
Lecturers |
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WELCOME TO CLASS
Welcome to class -- and thanks for signing
up for the GIFF online course. It will probably be the best
decision you have ever made in your life. Today the logistics
sector is the fastest growing in the industry and because the
process of moving goods from one part of the world to another
requires knowledgeable personnel, freight forwarding
professionals all over the world are being called upon to
improve standards of performance. For many of you, this may be
your first online (on the Internet) course, so we'll use the
entire class today to discuss the course, get acquainted with a
few simple computer operations, and poke around a little to see
how things will work. If you are not a computer wiz, don't worry
-- you won't need to be. From a computer standpoint, absolutely
everything is simple. By the time you leave class today, you'll
know almost everything needed to navigate this course on the
Internet. You will send all assignments and queries for
your lecturer to the GIFF education office by e-mail unless the
lecturer particularly requests you to do so.
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- A. WHY THE GIFF COURSE HAS NOW GONE ONLINE ?
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One advantage of the online format is
the ability to include a lot of graphic images -- over a
thousand in all -- plus video clips. Hopefully they will
make the subject more interesting and the material easier to
understand. And you won't have to pass them on to someone
sitting next to you or strain to see them on a screen at the
front of a room -- they'll be right in front of you, to
spend time studying, to keep, print, or whatever you choose.
Most of the photos were taken right here in Ghana, so the
course should incidentally be something of a tour of the
freight forwarding or what is referred to as clearing and
forwarding in Ghana. If you have been attending GIFF
functions, most of the photos will look familiar.
During the course, I hope you will develop an appreciation
for the environment in which the freight forwarder in Ghana
operates.
A useful resource in the course is the GIFF forum
where senior practitioners go to discuss issues of concern
in the local freight forwarding industry.
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- B. PURPOSE AND ORGANIZATION
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This is a no-prerequisite first course in freight
forwarding and one of the first regular courses being
offered by the Ghana Institute of freight forwarders.
Although it requires practical background for students, it
is open to anyone who might be interested. No part of the
course is directed specifically at freight forwarding
students. Reading, research and collaboration with the class
are major components of the course.
The course is a 12-month course that
would require six hours of in-class work and maybe about
three hours outside of class on study and other activities
each week over a forty eight-week period. Students taking the course
online should plan on spending up to the same six hours a
week on the course. Competencies will be listed for each
class.
The course follows the FIATA Diploma
format of 12 modules -- Freight
Forwarding, Maritime Transport, Air Transport, Road
Transport, Rail Transport, Multimodal Transport and Containerization,
Insurance, Logistics, Inland Waterway Transport, Custom
Procedures and ICT in Freight Forwarding.
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- C. COURSE OBJECTIVES
- To acquaint students with the freight forwarding
profesion
- To acquaint students with common methods
and practices involving freight forwarding activities
- To acquaint students with processes used in
freight movement and when to use what mode
- To familiarize students with the local (and
national) logistics environment and to promote a greater
appreciation of it.
- To provide students with hands-on, research, and
collaborative activities to vary and deepen the study of
freight forwarding activities.
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- D. TEXTBOOK AND REQUIRED SUPPLIES
- The material provided in the course is deemed
adequate for requirements of the course. Where extra
material is required, it will be made available for
downloading. Students may also purchase bound copies of the
course material by post from the education department.
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- Optional textbook: Click
here
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- E. A NOTE ABOUT
YOU AND THIS COURSE
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Students learn best in quite different
ways. One of the advantages of the online format of the
course is that it allows students to approach the course in
ways that suit their personal styles and preferences. In
classrooms, instructors are inclined to teach either as they
themselves were taught, or as they think "the average
student" prefers. Online, all of the instructor-presented
class material is laid out at once, and students can do with
it whatever they prefer in order to learn in as personal and
unique a fashion as possible.
This course by design specifically
accommodates different learning styles by involving a
variety of components, including text, a wealth of photos
and drawings, video clips, self-check quizzes, reference
lists, online discussion, and a lot of case studies set in
the local environment. Since
you are probably used to learning more or less as prescribed
or required by a classroom teacher and are not used to
designing your own learning strategy, it might take a little
time to do that and to settle into a comfortable routine. I
think you'll find that as you figure out on your own and
with the help of the advice available from the GIFF special
advisory board how to
learn the material, everything will fall into place.
Online learning, you will find, is
quite different than classroom learning. It requires
different attitudes, responsibilities, and communication
skills. To help you prepare for this different learning
environment (for most students), you might want to read
about why the GIFF course has been put on line and what to
expect. Click the address here
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- F. CONTACT THE INSTRUCTIONS
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- G. CONTACT CLASSMATES
- In a banner at the top of each class page (after the
information has been compiled) there will be a button
entitled "classmates" that you can click for the names,
e-mail addresses, one-line biographies, and (optional) web
page addresses of everyone in the class. If you want your
picture and/or additional biographical information to be
available to other students, you can include that on your
personal home page.
At the top of each class page (activated at the very end
of this class) there will also be a button entitled
"collaborate" that will enable you to communicate with the
entire class and with scheduled outside experts and guests.
Part of your grade will be based on your using this
regularly (see "collaboration" under the heading "Course
Activities" below).
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- H. COURSE ACTIVITIES
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 1. READING
- Most of the required reading will be reading of material
posted on the web (like this) for each class. Reading in the
textbook is recommended for every topic studied. The
material presented will seldom duplicate what's presented in
the textbook, so the textbook should be used as a
reinforcement or complement to in-class material. The
suggested textbook readings are listed in the schedule that
follows. It is best if you do the reading in the textbook
before the dates shown.
Video clips are incorporated into online material that
you will need to read. To view the clips, you will need to
download a free video player. The download is very simple,
however. Go to Vivo Player by clicking the Vivo image below.
Enter (1) your computer operating system (probably Windows
95, but check the drop-down list for other possibilities),
(2) your browser type (Internet Explorer or Netscape), and
(3) your first name, last name, and e-mail address. Scroll
down that page and click "submit." At the next screen that
comes up, answer "yes." If you see a message indicating that
you will not be able to hear any audio because you do not
have an audio device in your computer, that's OK -- the
video clips to view will not have audio anyway. So if that
message comes up, answer "no." That's all there is to it.
CLICK THIS IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD THE VIDEO
PLAYER REQUIRED TO VIEW THE VIDEO CLIPS
The video clips are best viewed on Internet Explorer 5
and above.
2.
DAILY
SELF-CHECK QUIZZES
Ungraded quizzes for testing yourself on class
explanations and other activities will be available at all
classes. Answers and explanations
will be shown on a linked page, so you can check your
answers immediately after taking the quizzes. Exactly how
you use the quizzes, as well as simply choosing whether or
not to use them at all, will be up to you. For them to have
the greatest effect, however, you should take them just like
in-class quizzes, then check your answers. The quizzes
should give you a good idea about how well you are learning
the material -- and the explanations of the answers will
often contain new material that will help you learn. The
self-check quizzes are almost entirely multiple choice, but
about half of each major exam will be short essay (discuss,
compare, explain, etc.). The multiple choice items will
simply enable you to check your answers immediately. For
possible subjects of essay questions, you should look more
at the class objectives (the "objectives" button in the
banner at the top of each page).
 3. ON-SITE EXAMS
It is envisaged that the examination dates will be
set by the GIFF academic board at the begining of the year.
Arrangements will be made for students to take needed
examination at centers nearer them.
If you are an out-of-Ghana student, you may take
any or all of the exams at a center we shall arrange in your area.
4. RESEARCH
PROJECT
There will be a required research project. Each student
will research a different topic. More about this in a week
or two.
5. E-MAIL AND
COLLABORATION
Part of your grade will be based on your collaborating
with the class online at least once each week. There will be
a "collaboration" button in the banner at the top of each
class page. Use it like you would to send an e-mail message
to an individual. Your course lecturers will follow your discussions, but may
not actively participate. As much as possible, we want it to
be your forum. We would prefer not to influence its
direction or make our presence too obvious. We
will, however, follow up on discussion topics as needed or
desired at the beginning of the next class sessions. A
feature of this discussion forum is that outside experts and
guests will be able to participate from time to time. So do
not be surprised if you receive a response or other message
from someone who is an expert or otherwise has first hand
knowledge of a particular topic. We'll try to keep you
informed about who the outsiders are.
6. FINAL EXAM
The final exam will be given at a date to be decided
later on. The
format will be similar to that of the interim tests -- about
half multiple choice, about half short essay. The exam will
be comprehensive, Your grade will be
posted on the web along with your final grade in the course.
More information about the final exam closer to the exam
date.
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- I. GRADES
- Final grades will be based on the total number of points
earned in the course. The table below are listed the
activities and their point values.
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RECAP AND WEIGHTING OF
THE ACTIVITIES |
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ACTIVITY |
WEIGHT |
POINTS |
NOTE |
| Reading |
0% |
0 |
Not graded. |
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Self-Check Quizzes |
0% |
0 |
Not graded, but
important practice for the exams. |
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End
Module Quiz
(8
modules) |
8% |
40 |
One
quiz at end of each module
(each
quiz 5 points) x 8 |
| Research Project |
12% |
60 |
A topic chosen from the 8 modules to be
agreed at start of course with lecturer. (5
pages) |
| Online
Collaboration |
10% |
50 |
Profile, plus 2-5 pts each
of 38 wks |
| Chat |
10% |
50 |
2-5 pts each of 38 wks |
By clicking the "status" button in the page banner, you
will be able to see at any point in the course the number of
points you have earned, the total number of points still
available, etc. at that point in the course.
GENERAL GRADING POLICIES
Except in cases of actual error, final grades are permanent.
Final "I" grades (Incomplete) will not be permitted except in
cases of prolonged, continuous, and excused absences in the
latter half of the course. Under no circumstances will an
"I" grade be given when more than half of the coursework has
not been completed.
Final "N" grades (Not taken) will be given only in very rare and
exceptional cases. An "N" will never be given
simply to replace a grade that you would prefer not to
receive.
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- J.
NAVIGATIONAL AIDS
These are the navigational aids you'll need to use to
maneuver your way around class. This is what they are and
what they do. You can click on the name of the item to see
what it looks like.
| ANSWERS |
Find
answers to self-check quiz items. |
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BACK ONE PAGE |
Go back one page. |
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CHAT |
Online chat with
other students. Instructor present at scheduled
hours. |
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CLASSMATES |
List of student
names, e-mail addresses, home page links, etc. |
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COLLABORATE |
Post questions and
comments, respond to others, etc. for the entire
class to view. |
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COMMENTS |
Send comments to
instructor (similar to "Instructor"). |
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CONTINUE |
Continue to the
next page (NOT the end of the class). |
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HOME PAGE |
Return to the Course home page. |
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HOTLINKS |
Quick links to all
classes. |
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INSTRUCTOR MAIL |
Send a question,
comment, etc. to the instructor. |
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INSTRUCTOR PAGE |
Go to the
instructor's web page. |
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NEXT CLASS |
Go on to the next
class. |
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OBJECTIVES |
View the objectives
(or "competencies") for the class. |
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REFERENCES |
Go to a list of
references. |
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SCHEDULE |
Go to the daily
schedule for the course at Class 1. |
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STATUS |
A record of grade
points earned to date. |
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VIDEO |
View a video clip
related to the text. |
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- K. GETTING TO CLASS
- We've set up a start page for you to go to every time you
come to class. It's http://www.ghanafreightforwarders.org/Online
To go to class, go directly to that page where there's a
quick link to every class, click the class you want to
attend, and, voila, you'll immediately be taken there.
Remember that you'll be able to go only to classes that
you have paid for and been given the key to. You can also
only participate in the chat etc forums for the class
or module paid for. The
principal purpose of this is to keep the class roughly
together so that everyone will be approximately together in
newsgroup and chat discussions. So there is something of a
two-week "window of opportunity" for attending each class.
You might want to bookmark the class access page so you do
not have to remember the address and type it in each time
you go to a class.
If you lose track of the class numbers, you can always go
back to the schedule that shows dates and topics as well as
class numbers. That's here in the syllabus, and there's a
link button entitled "schedule" under the banner at the top
of each class page to make that super-easy.
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- L. TODAY'S ACTIVITY
- We need some profile information from you. It'll
serve as something of an introduction of yourself to the
class.
Remember that the once-a-week participation in collaboration
is only a minimum.
Before you go to collaboration however, you
need to print or hand copy the questions that follow. When
you go to collaboration, this screen will disappear, so unless
you have a photographic memory, you'll need to copy the
questions here to refer to after you quit this screen.
Anyway, these are the questions:
- What is your name?
- What is your career objective?
- How many hours a week (if any) do you work at paid
employment?
- Have you taken a course on the internet before this
one?
- What is the most important reason why you are taking
this course?
- At this point in time, what is your preference --
web courses, classroom courses, or no preference?
- What is the address of your personal home page?
- Who is your assigned lecturer?
- Is there anything else you'd like to comment on? If
so, what?
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- M. BEFORE THE NEXT CLASS
- There is no required reading, but the first few
pages of the Freight Forwarding module are
suggested. The discussion next time will make a little
more sense if you have some background in the topics
addressed.
Start rounding up materials for the research
project. You will need to discuss this with your
assigned lecturer
There will be a self-check quiz next time. If
right now you took the quiz on this syllabus that
you're finishing now, how do you think you'd do? Do you
remember the attendance policy? What are the
requirements for collaborating online?
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A daily or weekly schedule is not a required part of
or required addendum to a syllabus. It does, however, help keep the
course on track throughout the period, help the instructor from
"running out of time" at the end of a course, enable students to
always see what is coming up, enable them to see where classes fit
into the plan, and evidence good planning and organization. It also
saves the instructor significant planning time during the
course. It is particularly important for an Internet course, because
of the different times students "attend" classes and the logistical
problems caused by changing things or improvising "on the fly."
( This is given for every two modules. The first is being given for
Maritime Transport and Freight Forwarding)
It is
anticipated that students will read the texts and other course
materials from Monday to Wednesday, and do the quizzes and others
required on Friday. Collaboration, chats and forums can be done
throughout the week.
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DATE WEEK
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TOPIC/ACTIVITY |
SUGGESTED
READING |
| Week 1
Martrans |
Introduction to Maritime Transport
The importance of Maritime Transport to the Ghanaian economy
Definitions and terminology
Local Maritime Regulatory Organizations, MPH, GMA
International Organizations and Regulations in Maritime
Transport |
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Week 2 Martrans |
IMO International Maritime Dangerous Goods
Code (IMDG Code)
Dangerous Goods Packaging and Labelling for Sea Transport
Hague Rules / Hague-Visby Rules / Hamburg Rules
Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) |
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| Week 3 Martrans |
Sea ports
Major sea ports in the world/ECOWAS Sub region
Port accessibility
Feeder services between ports
Port facility
The Role of GPHA as a Master Porter, UCL provisions
Local Terminal Operations, Safebond, MPS etc |
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Martrans |
Types of Vessels
Conventional ships , Container ships ,Ro-Ro carriers Bulk
carriers (dry bulk cargo vessels) , Tankers (liquid bulk cargo
vessels)
Heavy lift ships (equipped with cranes and derricks)
Developments and specialization in shipping
Shipping Services
Liner Shipping
Charter Shipping |
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Documents in Shipping
Bill
of Lading
Charter Party
Accompanying Documents
Pricing of Ocean Freight
Pricing in Liner Shipping
Pricing in Charter Shipping
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Week 6 |
INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT FORWARDER AND THE
FREIGHT BUSINESS
Legal requirements (carrier/agent)
General ‚Trading Conditions‘ of the local National Association (GIFF
STC)
Important trade terms
ORGANISATION OF THE COMPANY
How Freight Forwarders carry out their duties to the needs of
customers
Quality Management ISO 9000. .Environmental Management ISO
14000..
(ISO = International Organisation for Standardization)
Selling of services, Marketing, Publicity, Inquiries and booking
Instructions in writing in accordance with forwarders conditions
Customers requirements and any special procedures
SELLER/BUYER CONTRACT TERMS
Delivery terms (Incoterms) |
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| Week 7
FF |
) Mandatory terms and use of
Letter of credit, destination inspection, Export/Import
documentation
Certificate of origin, Legalised documents, Waiver
B) Other seller/buyer payment procedures
Reimbursement arrangements, COD (cash against documents)
www.iso.ch, www.icc.org
C) Customs Tariff
Customs Procedures, Customs Clearance
D) General Procedures
Selection of appropriate method of transport and cargo space
booking
Ensuring that delivery date relates to delivery times quoted, by
carrier
Correct issuance of documents – including collection receipts
and customs documents
Monitoring (tracking and tracing) of goods and document
throughout transaction
1.3 FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS
Invoicing according to agreed tariffs and/or quotations,
Charging for full cost recovery
Rates and quotation records, Foreign currency conversion,
introduction of a common currency in the ECOWAS sub region ,
Credit policy and creditworthiness, Legal aspect
Risk management
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Week 8
FF |
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
National Forwarding and Logistic Associations
FIATA (Fédération Internationale des Associations de
Transitaires et Assimilés)
GIFF
www.fiata.com, www..ghanafreightforwarders.org
FIATA DOCUMENT AND FORMS
FIATA Documents
FIATA FBL = Negotiable FIATA Multimodal Transport Bill of Lading
FIATA FWB = Non-negotiable FIATA Multimodal Transport Waybill
FIATA FCR = FIATA Forwarders Certificate of Receipt
FIATA FCT = FIATA Forwarders Certificate of Transport
FIATA FWR = FIATA Warehouse Receipt
FIATA Forms
FIATA FFI = FIATA Forwarding Instructions
FIATA SDT = Shippers Declaration for the Transport of Dangerous
Goods
FIATA SIC = Shippers Intermodal Weight Certification
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| Week 9
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GENERAL KNOWLEDGE OF TRANSPORT RELATED
GEOGRAPHY
Continents and most important countries, Knowledge of the main
flows of traffic world-wide/Into and intra regionally. Physical
and climatic conditions, Time zones, Geopolitical aspects
SPECIAL TRANSPORT SERVICES
Consolidation – Groupage services offered by the freight
forwarder for all modes of transport (land, sea, container, air)
Transport of heavy weight and out of gauge cargo
Classified goods, Dangerous Goods Foodstuff (liquid and solid),
Perishables
Flowers and Plants, Livestock
PACKING REQUIREMENTS
Most economic and appropriate packing methods according to mode
of transport
Marking, Weighing, Measuring, Calculation of w/m (weight,
measurement)
Packing specialists, Packing and labelling according to
regulations and classification of
Dangerous Goods ( see chapter on Dangerous goods)
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Week 10
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COOPERATION WITH OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS
(COMMERCIAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL ORGANISATIONS
Activities in international Bodies, relating to commercial
trading Banks
UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade and Development,
Geneva, Switzerland ICC International Chamber of Commerce,
Paris, France
WCO World Customs Organisation, WTO World Trade Organisation
WB World Bank
www.unctad.org, www.icc.org., www.wco.org,
www.wto.org, www.worldbank.org
INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICT)
(INTRODUCTION ONLY !)
Structure and functioning of IT Systems, Mainframe and personal
networks
Hardware, Software
Particular applications in the transport industry, EDIFOR –
EDIFACT
e-forwarding, e-commerce
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Go to
GIFF Online
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Welcome
to Giff Online This is your learner portal where you can gain access to
your course materials and other information about the support sections
of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders' online courses. It
supports learning, teaching and all classroom activities incorporated in
GEPLAD.
