What’s with this “chartered” business?
History
Motorised transport and aviation both came of age as reliable means of movement during the First World War so adding two new modes of transport to those of shipping and rail.
The logistics problems of the Great War, and the growth of road transport following the war made it obvious that transport in its broadest sense had become a science that had to be studied, learned and developed, if resources were to be used as efficiently and effectively as possible. The response to this need was the founding in 1919 of the Institute of Transport “to promote, encourage and coordinate the study and advancement of the science and art of transport in all its branches”.
In parallel with the development of the science of transport was the need to develop and recognise the expertise of the practitioners, and to develop a method of qualifying those who met the necessary criteria to be “professional Transportants” in the same way that qualifications had been developed for other professionals such as accountants, architects, engineers and surveyors, A Royal Charter was granted to the Institute of Transport in 1926 that allowed it to recognise the achievement of standards of knowledge and professionalism and confer qualifications on members meeting the standards.
Structure
Membership of the Institute now comprises over 33,000 members in over 30 countries throughout the world. In 1989 a governing World Council made up of representatives of the various national sections was formed and in 2001 it adopted the title of “The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport” in recognition of the growth of logistics specialism within in the field of freight movement. CIT Sections around the world pioneered education programmes in the art and science of transport, and these programmes were the means by which a person gained the academic knowledge required for Chartered membership. This education role has since been supplanted by universities and other educational institutes with courses accredited by the Institute as meeting some or all of the educational requirements for Chartered Membership. Other academic qualifications are also credited towards Chartered membership.
Post Nominals
Today the qualifications CMILT* or FCILT* identify an experienced professional in the transport and logistics field. The standards are carefully administered in the terms of the Royal Charter, and can only be used by persons who maintain their membership of the Institute and who subscribe to the professional and ethical standards of the Institute as expressed in the “Code of Professional Conduct”.
Persons aspiring to Chartered Membership require to have practical experience in the industry dependant on their qualifications. Their professional ability is established by reviewing their work experience against Key Performance Area criteria. The resulting assessment is a combination of academic, practical and management experience to demonstrate the achievement of a standard for the award of Chartered Membership that is recognised in all member countries and transferable between them. If you are seeking a professional qualification and the recognition that you have achieved professional status, the qualification of Chartered Membership is for you.
For further information, contact National Office at (09) 368 4970 or e-mail info@cilt.co.nz