CNA celebrates first FITT graduates
10/19/2006 2:54:59 PM
College of the North Atlantic (CNA) celebrated the achievements of its Forum for International Trades Training (FITT) skills program during a graduation ceremony held Thursday, October 19 at the Prince Phillip Drive campus in St. John’s.
The occasion highlighted the success of participants in the training initiative while also recognizing the various contributions made by its partners. The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), FITT and the Schooner Regional Economic Development Board worked with CNA to build on the province’s trades training capacity, particularly in the area of human resources, and strengthen its export performance.
“Canada’s New Government recognizes that a skilled work-force is key to success in the global market place”, said the Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Regional Minister for Newfoundland and Labrador, on behalf of the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of ACOA. “This is also key to making Atlantic Canada more competitive overall, and creating jobs that will help us retain our youth – the future of Atlantic Canada.”
“By being directly involved with the local economy and hosting this training program, it shows how valuable a service we can offer our communities,” said Bruce Hollett, President of CNA.
Over the past two years, 39 businesses in the Schooner economic zone have benefited from the International Business program at the Burin campus. As part of this project, four consultant seminars per semester were delivered to local business including; logistics problem solving, and marketing and legal contract development for companies doing business in St. Pierre et Miquelon, says Hollett.
“Being afforded this opportunity through our partners at ACOA, and seeing results that benefit the people of Newfoundland and Labrador is precisely the outcome we expected when this project was introduced,” said Hollett, pointing out the only Certified International Trade Professionals in the province are graduates of the FITTSkills program through CNA.
In February 2004, ACOA committed $470,759 over a three-year period through its Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership fund to establish the program at CNA. The intent was to enhance trade curriculum for CNA’s business administration/management programs, to assist trade professionals who wish to work towards a CITP designation, and develop an expanded outreach trade program for businesses and service providers.
"Our trade officers are actively involved in helping Newfoundland and Labrador businesses develop new markets in Boston, Chicago and Florida and the Forum for International Trades Training has helped immeasurably," says Trevor Taylor, minister of the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, which currently has nine people registered in the program.
A total of 145 students have enrolled in the FITTSkills program, with 19 becoming the province’s first Certificate or Diploma graduates who qualified through five CNA campuses. Over the same period, more than 100 trade professionals and service providers have taken the FITTSkills courses.
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For more information, please contact:
Roger Hulan
Manager of Marketing and Communications
College of the North Atlantic
709 643.7721