The International Trade Specialist Accreditation is a distance e-learning programme that enables students to achieve practical international trade skills and knowledge leading to an accredited certification from the top performing exporting country in the world. The ITS Programme provides these key benefits: 

    1)         ITS participants obtain a thorough foundation in the core areas of International Trade.

    2)         ITS Graduates may use the designation "ITS" in professional Correspondence.

    3)         ITS participants can network and interact online with professionals from related sectors and expert 
                 learning guides resulting in a pooling of practical experience through the eCampus online learning
              community.

This very practical distance e-learning course covers all the essential areas of International Trade needed for people working in day to day issues such as document preparation, transport, warehousing, customs clearance, packing, INCOTERMS, Documentary Credits, Documentary Collections, Trade Finance, eBusiness and a lot more. 

As an ITS Participant, you can get practical advice on your own work related issues from fellow participants and graduates as well as a growing number of international trade and finance consultants who contribute their expertise over the our Online Campus.

WHO’S THE COURSE INTENDED FOR?
This programme is perfect for staff in SME's who are new to export as well as experienced exporting companies because it will provide successful graduates with a thorough grounding in the key areas of international trade. Previous participants have included professionals from banks, trading companies, shipping companies, manufacturers, service providers and multinationals.  Simply speaking, this programme will benefit all those who work or wish to work in the exciting, yet demanding, area of International Trade. Click the link below to download a sample list of organisations that have benefitted from our training: http://www.ebsi.ie/eBSI_Client_List.pdf 

WHAT DO OUR GRADUATES THINK OF THE ITS?
The electronic Business School International is proud of the quality of service and support provided to students of the ITS Accreditation programme.  We have compiled a page of some of the feedback from International Trade Professionals who have passed through our programme to become International Trade Specialists!
Take a look at our testimonials page for their comments! 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

This course is open to people working in the area of International Trade and to those who wish to work in this area who have obtained at least certificate level in a post second level learning institution. Exceptions to these requirements may be accepted onto the course at the discretion of the Academic Board of the eBSI.

COURSE CONTENT
During the International Trade Specialist (ITS) programme participants are involved in structured guided learning. Participants are guided by expert tutors through the specialist knowledge and skills essential to professionals participating, or wishing to participate, in international trade and eBusiness.

The programme subjects are: 

• Export Market Entry Strategy
• Trade and Customs Practice
• Finance of International Trade
• eBusiness for International Trade
  
• and the preparation of an Industry Trade Study

Click here to receive a detailed ITS Accreditation Programme Syllabus.

Thematic Summary: Export Market Entry Strategy

Learn the key steps to enter a new foreign market! This training programme is ideal for experienced exporters as well as those new to export who wish to expand their business activities to new foreign export markets. This course offers a real and practical vision of International Marketing. The basic marketing concepts are explored (the 4 P's, segmentation, the marketing plan, etc.) as they are applied to international tade. The course analyses how the image of a particular country may influence its exports. Practical case studies and simulations are extensively used as the student advances in the development of an Export Market Entry Strategy implementation plan.

Screenshot: Export Market Entry Strategy CD ROM

Learning Units in this course (click to view summary):
 - Exporting
 - Introduction to International Marketing
 - Intercultural Management
 - Segmentaton
 - Country Image
 - International Product Policy
 - International Pricing Policy
 - International Promotion Policy
 - International Distribution
 - Direct/Indirect Export
 - Market Research
 - International Fairs
 - Sales Network Management
 - The Export Department
 - A Business Trip
 - International Sales into Hypermarkets

Thematic Summary: Trade and Customs Practice

You have received an order from a foreign buyer, but what to do next? This course will take you through the whole export process from signing a contract to taking your goods through the customs. The course will provide students with the thorough grounding in all aspects of import and export, both within the European Union and outside. The impact of regional agreements (Euro Zone, Mercosur, NAFTA, ASEAN) as well as the influence of the WTO and other world organisations activities will be also analysed in the course. An essential course for staff working on the operational front line of exporting.

Screenshot: Trade and Customs Practice

Learning Units in this course (click to view summary):
 - Introduction to International Trade
 - International Transport and Logistics
 - Export Packaging
 - Marine Transport
 - International Modes of Transport
 - Documentation in International Trade
 - Customs Procedures
 - Import Procedures
 - Incoterms 2000
 - International Contracts

Thematic Summary: Finance of International Trade

This course covers all aspects related to financing an export transaction and obtaining payment. Students will examine how to receive and effect payment for international contracts of sale. The selection of the most suitable method of payment is a key factor of a successful export sale and these are examined in detail from advance payment and documentary collections through to documentary credits. Currency management is also examined and the most common export finance arrangements from factoring and invoice discounting through to forfaiting. Bonds and guarantees and export credit insurance complete the content of this course.

Screenshot: Finance of International Trade

Learning Units in this course (click to view summary):
 - Methods of Payment
 - Letters of Credit
 - International Trade Finance
 - Bonds and Guarantees
 - Documentary Collections
 - Forfaiting
 - Import Letters of Credit
 - Export Credit Insurance

Thematic Summary: eBusiness for International Trade

Electronic commerce gives companies the possibility to sell their products and services in a new digital market, to establish a new relationship with clients and suppliers, to reduce costs, design new distribution strategies, etc. Many issues have to be dealt with if a company decides to go online and establish itself in the digital market. However, in order to do this a detailed knowledge of the fundamentals of this new market is essential.

Screenshot: eBusiness for International Trade

Learning Units in this course (click to view summary):
 - Fundamentals of Digitalisation
 - The Digital Economy
 - eSecurity
 - eProduct
 - Internet Pricing Policy
 - eEntrepreneur
 - eBusiness Implementation
 - eMarketing I
 - eMarketing II
 - ePromotion
 - Languages on the Internet
 - Online Shops
 - Search Engine Registration
 - Online Audience
 - eDistribution
 - eLogistics
 - Brand & Positioning
 - eBusiness Department
 - Export Examples
 - eCommerce
 - eCommerce Risk Management

Students can enrol for any of the four above mentioned subjects separately, to match their training needs and pace of study. These subjects are classed as Modularised Professional Courses. These courses have the same academic value towards the ITS as an individual subject of the ITS. 

ITS participants interact with their Learning Guides and fellow students online through the eBSI eCampus. Here they can also access supplementary material and up-to-date information and articles written by the eBSI panel of Specialist Advisors.

ITS STRUCTURE

• ITS participants undertake the study of 4 key subjects over a period of one academic year.
• ITS participants are provided with 4 individual, subject-related, interactive, self-paced multimedia training CD-ROM's with lots of pop-ups explanations, diagrams, graphic simulations, animations, illustrative pictures, audio commentaries, useful practical tips and articles of interest. The CD-ROMs contain over 160 hours of engaging interactive learning.
• ITS participants are supported through an 'Online Campus' developed specifically for the ITS Accreditation.
• ITS participants attend high-level intensive online seminars. Leading industry sector experts will present a specialist paper at each online seminar. Participants who cannot take part in a particular workshop will be sent a transcript of the whole session after the seminar has ended.
• ITS participants are guided by tutors who are acknowledged international experts in their specialist subjects.

COURSE LEARNING GUIDES

ITS students will be guided by eBSI Learning Guides throughout the entire course, providing them help and advice whenever it is needed and monitoring their progress. Every eBSI Learning Guide has a great deal of professional experience in their field and is supported by a team of Specialist Advisors who are recognised specialists in their own area of international trade.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT

ITS students are supported through an online e-campus developed specifically for the ITS Accreditation. In the e-campus students will find additional information on trade-related issues and articles and links of interest. Furthermore, in the e-campus they will be able to participate in the discussion forums initiated by their tutors and express their opinion on many important issues and aspects of international trade, as well as ask their questions and receive valuable feedback.

During the course, students will receive a number of open exercises from their tutors. 80% of those must be completed by the student and returned to the assigned tutor for correction and feedback.

	We also organise online presentations on particular topics in form of chats on a regular basis.
Students are required to participate in at least 50% of them.

The course assessment is based on the student’s participation in the discussion forums, chats, and completion of open exercises. To successfully complete the course and receive the International Trade Specialist accreditation students must collect at least 60% of their overall assessment.

ITS ENROLMENT

Due to its modularised nature, the ITS Programme starts a number of times each year. You may enrol online or by emailing us at enrolments@ebsi.ie. 

Students can enrol for any of the four ITS subjects separately, to match their training needs and pace of study. These subjects are classed as Modularised Professional Courses (MPC's). These courses have the same academic value towards the ITS as an individual subject of the ITS. We accept applications for MPC’s all year round.

ACCREDITATION
The electronic Business School International (eBSI) is accredited by the Institute of International Trade of Ireland in Ireland, The Institute of Trade, Transport and Forwarding and CzechTrade (Czech Government Trade Organisation) in the Czech Republic and has affiliations with the Federation of International Trade Associations.  The eBSI is a Member of the International Association of Trade Training Organisations, IATTO.  

The ITS Accreditation is a truely INTERNATIONAL trade training programme which uses a combination of blended learning and peer-to-peer interaction on an international scale to bring you an export training opportunity which has won international recognition including:

- Accredited by the Institute of International Trade of Ireland
- Recommended by the Irish Exporters Association
- Full exemption from Institute of Export UK Advanced Certificate of International Trade 
- Exemption from Institute of Export UK from Logistics Module of their Diploma in International Trade
- eBSI are Members of the International Association of Trade Training Organisations (IATTO)
- Accredited by the Czech Institute of Trade, Transport and Forwarding
- Accredited by the Faculty of Economics, Finance and Administration, Belgrade, Serbia
- Recommended by the Czech Export Promotion Agency CzechTrade
- Recommended by the Moldovan Export Promotion Organisation
- eBSI named European Bank for Reconstruction and Development 'Best Trade & Finance Trainer 2003'
- Recommended by the Monterrey Bay International Trade Association (California USA)
- Recommended by the Georgian Export Promotion Agency (GEPA)
- Recognised by Capital University of Business and Economics, Beijing, China
- Recommended by the Institute of Export in Hong Kong.
- Recommended by the Russian Marketing Association.
and the list grows every month as eBSI staff tirelessly negotiate further institutional recognition for this exciting International Trade Training Programme!

OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT
The electronic Business School International (eBSI) is recognised and acknowledged as a leader in the area of International Trade training and as such graduates of our training programme are in great demand.  The fact that all graduates remain members of an elite International Alumni who continue to share knowledge and opportunities means that continual career development and enhancement opportunities will arise as further courses are developed and released in this highly specialised field of activity.  Third level institutions including Dublin Institute of Technology (Ireland), Tblisi Business Academy (Georgia), Moscow Institute of International Business (Russia) and the University of Northampton already have recognised the ITS Accreditation as a practical professional export training qualification.  eBSI also assists graduates from the ITS Accreditation to subsequently seek out career opportunities through a specialist export employment portal at http://www.exportcareers.com. 

COURSE FEES
The ITS course fees of EUR 2,000 include registration fees with eBSI, all course materials, tutor guidance, online support and tutorials throughout the course, access to the e-campus, and online seminars. Accreditation fees with relevant institutions are not included.

We accept payments by credit card, bank draft, cheque, and money order. Payment by instalments may be allowed under special circumstances and only if covered by valid credit card.

Click here to enrol for the International Trade Specialist Accreditation Programme (a new window will open).

Emerging Markets Grant Scheme
eBSI believes in fairness and solidarity for developing countries and we understand that not all our students can afford to pay western course fees for their education.  We also strongly believe that the best way to assist countries to develop is to assist them in exporting their way out of poverty.  To this end eBSI has established the Emerging Markets Grant Scheme where students and professionals from markets with a low income per capita can submit an application for up to 60% grant support towards the costs of their studies with eBSI. The EMGS Grant is available for eligible candidates in countries with a Gross National Income per capita of USD 12,000 or under as calculated by the World Bank. Click here for an application form.