Forum for International Trade Training

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)

A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia's content policies, particularly neutral point of view. Please discuss further on the talk page. (March 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

This article contains promotional content. Please help improve it by removing promotional language and inappropriate external links, and by adding encyclopedic text written from a neutral point of view. (March 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

(Learn how and when to remove this message)

Forum for International Trade Training (FITT)

Company type| Non-profit
Industry| Import-export training and certification; international trade training and certification
Founded| 1992
Founder| Canadian Government and Private Sector
Headquarters|

Ottawa, ON

Canada

Key people

| Caroline Tompkins, CAE, CITP, President and CEO

Number of employees

| 10
Website| http://www.fittfortrade.com/

The Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) is "a not-for-profit organization that offers international business training, resources and professional certification to individuals and businesses."[1]

FITT offers the FITTskills international trade training program, a series of 6 courses for global business professionals that can be taken either online or in a classroom setting through educational partners.[2][3] FITTskills students receive the FITT Certificate in International Trade after completing three of the courses, and the FITT Diploma in International Trade after completing all six courses.[4]

The organization also offers the Certified International Trade Professional designation, also trademarked as the FITT International Business Professional designation in the U.S. and Europe.[5] It is often referred to as the CITP|FIBP designation.[6] In French, it is referred to as the Professionnel accrédité en commerce international (PACI|FPAI) designation.

FITT's strategic partners are Export Development Canada (EDC), Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and the World Trade Centers Association.

## History

[edit]

In the late 1980s, Dieter Hollweck, began planning for a new organization.[7] FITT was then incorporated in 1992 as part of Canada’s sector council initiative.

FITT first launched its FITTskills training program in 1993, which is now in its sixth edition, with the seventh edition being launched in early 2017. In 1996, it also launched the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) process to allow business professionals to use their previous work and educational experience to earn FITTskills credits. FITTskills courses were first offered online in 1999, which continues today.[8]

In 2001, FITT began to accredit academic institutions and organizations already offering international business courses to offer FITTskills courses. There are currently over 43 educational partners in Canada, China, Colombia, Malaysia, Romania and the UK, offering FITTskills courses in a classroom setting.[9]

FITT's CITP designation was first offered in 1998, and the competency requirements were revised in 2006 and again in 2016. Since 2009, it has also been trademarked as the FIBP designation in the U.S. and Europe.

FITT has also awarded honorary CITP|FIBP designations to several notable figures in international trade, including former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister John Manley, Canadian Chamber of Commerce CEO Perrin Beatty, Governor of the Bank of Canada Stephen Poloz,[10][11] and former Canadian Minister of International Trade Stockwell Day.[citation needed][12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "About Us". Forum for International Trade Training (FITT). 28 May 2015. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
2. ^ "FITTskills Online Courses". Forum for International Trade Training (FITT). 25 May 2015. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
3. ^ "Online & Instructor-Led Courses". Forum for International Trade Training (FITT). Retrieved 2016-03-09.
4. ^ "Credentials". Forum for International Trade Training (FITT). 14 July 2015. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
5. ^ "FIBP Details". Forum for International Trade Training (FITT). 14 July 2015. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
6. ^ "Professional International Business Certification CITP | FIBP". Forum for International Trade Training (FITT). 12 June 2015. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
7. ^ "The story of how it all began for us, the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) - Trade Ready". Trade Ready. 10 June 2014. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
8. ^ "Milestones". Forum for International Trade Training (FITT). 15 July 2015. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
9. ^ "Instructor Led Courses". Forum for International Trade Training (FITT). Retrieved 2016-03-07.
10. ^ "CITP Designation | Entrepreneur Journal". eshaabrol.com. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
11. ^ "QBC Ottawa featuring Stephen Poloz". smith.queensu.ca. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
12. ^ "citp20 ebook.pdf" (PDF).

## External links

[edit]

* www.FITTforTrade.com
* Trade Ready - FITT's international trade blog

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States