EIPM appoints Intenda Training Academy for Africa

This highly sought after accreditation has now officially positioned ITA as the preferred training academy in the Spend Management arena.

Action learning

Through years of research, networking and close contact with its client companies, EIPM brings meaningful innovation to knowledge transfer, pedagogy and on-the-job learning. The ITA has responded to purchasing training needs with solutions that are both global and local; creating integrated programmes for purchasing training; implementing online pre-learning modules and post learning tutoring; and have also developed an online assessment tool.

According to EIPM CEO, Professor Bernard Gracia. EIPM has concentrated on purchasing and supply chain management research, executive education and executive action learning. “Since 2002, EIPM has been developing its niche global network of certified trainers throughout the USA, China and Japan.”

The EIPM was created in 1990 by ‘companies to serve companies' in one of the most strategic and fastest growing functions: purchasing and supply management. Pioneer founding companies include the likes of Alcatel, Philips and Nokia. Since then, organisations such as ABN Amro, Aventis, Alstom, Bayer, BASF, DuPont, Electrolux, EADS, Pechiney, Valeo and Thyssen have called on EIPM to develop their most precious resource - their human resources.

“Based on our global strategy, EIPM was very interested to develop a partnership in Africa and it was decided that South Africa would take the leadership for the region. As a result, the partnership between EIPM and Intenda will allow EIPM to support some of its global clients who are located in this region including Unilever and Metso,” adds Gracia.

Taking a more holistic approach to the training challenge which lies in the procurement field today, the ITA not only brings the EIPM international certification to the market, but also a of host other certified and accredited training interventions.

ITA has a recorded status with the Service SETA and is in the process of obtaining full accreditation with the Council for Higher Education (CHE) for the related interventions on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) at level 5.

Uplift spend skills set

The ITA's objective is to uplift spend management skills and competencies within the buyer and supplier communities. Its methodology is that of action learning that enables the candidates to apply their integrated knowledge to situations different from where it was obtained.

ITA's Theuns Basson says the difference, and the success that stems from it, is found in the expertise and renowned experience in the field of Spend Management. Not only was the ITA launched as a new concept to facilitate continuous learning and growth in South Africa, it also offers training interventions in one of the most strategic and fastest growing functions – Spend Management. Therefore, the ITA can be seen as a further extension to the current service offerings of Intenda - in order to positively contribute to the building of the Spend Management skills base in South Africa.

Gracia says the ITA will develop the correct level of competences in Purchasing and Supply Management necessary to face the challenges of today and tomorrow. “The partnership with ITA is built to develop sustainable efficient education through talent assessments, certification programmes and in-house action learning workshops.”