Training
Training feedback
e-Learning Course, April 2017
tralac recently organised a 6-week online course on Trade in the 21st Century: Legal and Policy Considerations for Africa.
Navigating the challenges of trade policy and regulation has never been more complicated or more important. Africa needs to pursue a 21st century trade and integration regime, prioritizing the movement of capital and people, trade facilitation, regulatory disciplines and dispute settlement that is accessible to all parties, including the private sector. This has the potential to increase trade, create jobs and grow industries.
We received the following feedback from students who successfully completed the course:
Martin Luther Munu
‘I enrolled to have a deeper understanding of the CFTA and other trade policy issues. I have understood the pertinent issues with regard to CFTA negotiations and greatly improved my skills in the legal dimension of trade policy processes. In addition, my awareness on the Brexit and how it its likely to affect Africa and more specifically my country has been enhanced. My responsibilities involve research on trade and regional integration so the skills I have acquired from this course directly benefits me in the analysis of trade and regional integration policy issues, both at the EAC level and at the continental level. The gathering trade data sessions really supports this!
I am currently undertaking a Masters course in trade policy and trade law and this course gives me an additional information which is crucial for my course. The coverage was sufficient, it does not look at the CFTA in isolation but rather within the broader global context of multilateral trade negotiations. The trade data lectures were so useful because I learnt new things with regard to using the trade map database. The e-learning platform was fantastic! The lectures were brief and to the point. I also liked the materials provided, which made it easy for us.
This initiative is very good for building capacity in trade policy. Beyond this course, it would be great if tralac can continue to engage the participants in different ways to keep the discussions and learning.’
Kenneth Akampurira
‘I had the opportunity of traveling to Nairobi in February, 2017 and my roommate in the apartment was doing research on trade related issues. He engaged me in a mini questionnaire and found trade related matters quite interesting. He also forwarded to me the Tralac link to read and that is how I found the course.
Prior to the course I knew nothing about FTAs. My knowledge only limited to knowing that there are political Blocks i.e. EAC, SADAC championing the normal causes of democracy and Pan-African agendas, but not trade. I am now fully equipped with regional developments and more enthusiastic to take this to the next level of my practice and academic improvement in the form of post graduate Diploma or Master's Degree. I am already look at how I can get instructions to file court matters for Judicial Review where traders are being disturbed by NTBs created by the respective member states. I must thank the Institute for awarding me a scholarship for the course.’
Salom Katoole
Trade Promotion officer
Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade & SME development Namibia
‘The Trade in 21st Century Legal & Policy Considerations for Africa course has played a vital role in shaping my skills regarding various issues related to policies and legal aspects of trade specifically in Africa. It is indeed for this reason that I sought to acquire a deep understanding on topics offered on the course. I have really gained valuable skills and knowledge from this course and will surely apply what I have learned in my work especially during trade negotiations. I will also use these newly acquired skills in my further study and career in general.
The course have covered quite very important topics in the area of trade policies and legal aspects which are very relevant to this era especially now that the continent is pushing for the establishment of the CFTA. The topics covered were really relevant and mind opening.
The lectures and assessments played a very big role and of course the discussions among the participants and mentors were very mind blowing and educative. The platform was very user friendly and I am just full of praises to the team in charge of the platform. Congratulations and job well done to the entire Tralac team involved in this e-learning courses facilitations.
WELL DONE TRALAC. THIS WAS INDEED ONE OF THE BEST. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT ONE SOON.’
Kanenga Haggai
Lecturer
University of Zambia
‘This course is directly relevant to my current work as a lecturer at the university of Zambia where the institution is trying to develop capacity in Trade Policy issues because a new course (subject) was introduced "Trade Policy and Development". This course has enlightened me especially on integration issues. I have learnt a lot regarding International trade and Trade Policy, very useful to the Trade Policy and Development Course at the University of Zambia.
The knowledge/skills gained will directly be used in my teaching and research in the Trade Policy and Development Course in my department. The knowledge will also be useful in advising government in trade policy issues.’ The platform was ‘well designed, the interface was very interactive and easy to navigate.’
Leonard Ugbajah
Resident Representative
CUTS (consumer unity & trust society) International; Nigeria
I enrolled for this course ‘to deepen my understanding of contemporary issues in international trade and how they affect Africa. The presentations, discussions and assessment questions have made me to reflect more deeply about the challenges of rules-based trade integration agenda for Africa.
I intend to use the knowledge or skills gained in my present work in advocacy for trade policy reforms and regional integration. In the future, I aspire to occupy policy position relating to trade and regional integration. Then coverage of the course is very satisfactory and enriching.
Thank you TRALAC for this opportunity to gain understanding of the CFTA process’.
Leudjou Njiteu Rostant Roland
PHD student
African School of Economics; Cameroon
I enrolled to ‘learn more about the current challenges and at stake of CFTA and to take this advantage to get in touch with TRALAC experts. This course gave me the opportunities to develop a research proposal that I didn't have enough information to carry it on.
I did many online courses organized by International Organizations like UNITAR, UNCTAD, UNECA, etc. but this is the first one where I had to write short articles and do a PowerPoint presentation on a full paper examined by Trade Experts. I really appreciated that. This allows students to gauge their level.’