Ground-breaking ICC Academy goes live

Commonwealth Bank of Australia, DBS, OCBC Bank, Banco Santander, and Standard Bank have been announced as “early adopters” of ICC Academy training courses.

Launched earlier this year, the ICC Academy has now opened its virtual doors and unveiled its online curricula of courses – all designed and taught by leading industry experts – and its groundbreaking Learning Management System.

Five banks – Commonwealth Bank of Australia, DBS, OCBC Bank, Banco Santander, and Standard Bank – will be “early adopters” of the ICC Academy, enabling employees to access its initial trade finance programmes. The Academy’s trade finance offering features over 70 online courses and two global certificates in trade finance (the “Global Trade Certificate” and “Certified Trade Finance Professional”). These initial courses have been designed drawing on the expertise and experience of the ICC Banking Commission – comprising more than 600 members across 110 countries.

The ICC Academy is an effective response to a global need for high-quality, flexible business education available on a large scale.

ICC Academy courses feature insights from senior business leaders and policymakers, and can be accessed online by prospective students – professionals, academics, tertiary students or members of the general public – anywhere in the world, at any time. Not only does this make it convenient for those with busy schedules, it also means that students in regions where physical access to training is limited can have equal access to world-class professional education. What is more, upon completion of courses, students receive globally-recognized certification of their professional skills.

“The ICC Academy is an effective response to a global need for high-quality, flexible business education available on a large scale,” said John Danilovich, Secretary General of ICC. “We hope our initial trade finance offering will help bridge skills gaps as regards trade finance instruments-both within the banking sector and wider industry. Academy courses have a key role to play in enhancing the supply of trade credit and ensuring that corporates understand the financing options open to them.”

For over 153 years Standard Bank has played a key role by providing banking and financial services in Africa. “We are excited to be partnering with the ICC educational initiative, the ICC Academy,” said Stephen Meintjes, Head of financial institution and trade transactional product and services at Standard Bank Group. “For Standard Bank, consistency in standards of training across the various regions remains important. The calibre of the content offered in the programme allows for insights from leading figures in the industry and enables participants to achieve recognised international trade accreditation from the ICC AcademyThe ICC Academy is designed by industry experts, flexible-enough to fit around professional schedules, and promotes continued education – ensuring standards stay high,” says Angel Rivera, Senior Executive Vice-President and Head of Retail & Commercial Banking – Banco Santander. “Our employees will benefit greatly from this partnership with the Academy. Indeed, the expertise they acquire will not only prepare them for the evolving trade finance landscape, but could also provide them with the skills they need to progress in their careers within the bank.”By becoming “early adopters” of the ICC Academy, all five banking partners can ensure their employees are not only internationally certified trade finance professionals, but are authorities on the trade finance industry – regularly completing courses and attending various conferences or seminars that allow them to continually adapt to fit the evolving landscape.

Follow the ICC Academy on LinkedIn.