Sydney, NSW: The Australian Federation of International Forwarders (AFIF) will launch The Bachelor of International Logistics (Freight Forwarding) on the 30th November 2011 in Sydney and on the 1st December 2011 in Melbourne. This is the first Australian Undergraduate Degree of its kind which will set a new standard for the freight forwarding industry nationally and globally.

The launch events that will take place at Bonnie Doon Golf Club, Sydney, and Mantra Tullamarine Hotel, mark the culmination of the projects final stages before it's initiation in the first semester of 2012. Guests will learn about the project thus far and how the degree will be run as it moves forward in the future. Members of the Degree committee, Industry body AFIF and representatives of the Australian Maritime College will be in attendance to field any questions on the project.

The Degree when available in early 2012, will for the first time in Australia, offer a definitive career pathway for school leavers and new entrants to the industry. It will also give those already in the industry an opportunity to join the program by recognising prior learning (RPL) credits from courses offered by Registered Training Organisations (RTO's) such as: myfreightcareer, Future Force, CBFCA and various TAFE institutions and others offering relevant Certificate IV and Diploma level courses.

Brian Lovell, AFIF CEO and Degree Committee member, is proud to launch the degree and believes the project was a long time coming and a necessary move for the industry. "The Degree will ultimately help this industry sector achieve the long awaited recognition, professionalism and accreditation it deserves" said Lovell.

The project began in 2010 when AFIF received considerable funding for the development of an industry specific Undergraduate Degree in International Freight Forwarding and Logistics. Upon receiving authorisation of the grant from the Cargo Automation Development Fund (CADF), a trust managed by Tradegate Australia Ltd, AFIF began working towards formalising the agreement between itself and the University of Tasmania's Australian Maritime College (AMC), to develop the Degree.

The funding has enabled the writing of the curriculum for the degree subjects overseen by industry experts. These people have worked closely with AFIF industry teams and the AMC to ensure the content is relevant to the Australian international freight forwarding industry

"The tertiary education received from the expertise of others will help to underpin the future of this industry and enable graduates to ultimately attain the highest levels of leadership within the industry." Lovell explained.

Both the Sydney and Melbourne events will run from 5pm-7pm and all industry, media and interested participants are welcome.

Please contact AFIF for more information on the launch of the Bachelor of International Logistics (Freight Forwarding) Undergraduate Degree. You can also visit www.afif.asn.au or follow the link to the invite http://www.afif.asn.au/pdf/2011/news/Logistics17112011.html.