Certificate in Border Management and International Trade
Total courses: 8
Requirements: 69-300, 69-310, 69-315, 69-320, 69-325, 69-330, 69-335, 69-340.
Other Requirements: Students must demonstrate level of competency aligned with course/program learning outcomes on a pass/fail grade in accordance with relevant rubrics.
Information About the Certificate in Border Management and International Trade
The Certificate Program in Border Management and International Trade bridges the traditional disciplines and creates a distinctive learning environment that aims to address emerging trends in the global economy. Border management refers both to the execution of customs, security and immigration functions by government agencies and to the administration of customs and other trade compliance, cross-border supply chains security and cross-border movement of personnel by private sector firms. Career paths in Border Management and International Trade include service in border related government agencies; international trade professionals such as customs brokers/managers and freight forwarders; logistics analysts and managers, storage and distribution managers, supply chain managers and supply chain security specialists; and international sales and marketing managers. The skills acquired in this program will also help owners and managers of small and medium sized firms expand their markets across international borders.
In addition to the University of Windsor’s certificate, the program leads to professional certification by the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) including a Level I Certificate (4 courses), Level II Certificate (8 courses) and the Certified International Trade Professional (8 courses plus one year of experience.) For details on FITT certification go to http://www.fitt.ca/home
New students (including mature students and professionals) apply via Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC).
For more information, please, contact: CROSSBORDER@uwindsor.ca
Course sequence
COURSES (69-XXX)
69-300. The Global Business Environment and Intercultural Aspects of Integrative Trade
The aim of this course is to provide each learner with an overview of the role of border agencies and the principles of border management. This course raises participants’ awareness of the intricacies involved in the communication process with various government agencies, border officials, and business partners and equips participants with specific techniques for effective communication in a variety of business situations. Attentiveness to the ethical dimension of business in a global setting is cultivated within each learner and decision-making models for resolving ethical dilemmas are utilized. The integrative trade approach is introduced within a cross-border and international trade environment and intercultural aspects of such trade are considered. In particular, learners focus on recognizing, understanding, and respecting differences in trading practices due to cultural influences. (This is a four-week course. 9 lecture hours/week) (Graded on a pass/fail basis - percentage grade optional.)
69-310 International Trade Law, Policy and the Political Environment
This course focuses on how to use the border, by discussing practical implications of cross-border trade from various stakeholders’ perspectives, including government, business professionals, and entrepreneurs. This course provides learners with a contextual understanding of policy and the political environment in international trade while exploring practical implications for border users. Topics explored include existing legal mechanisms that govern international trade, including corporate law, tax law, and trade compliance practice s. Emphasis is placed on understanding the risks associated with integrative trade and developing contingency strategies to protect organizations. The course engages learners on an individual basis to develop and share their diverse perspectives. Learners will benefit from an array of guest speakers from the Government of Canada, stressing the importance of the tools, access, and support needed to reach and succeed in global markets. (This is a four-week course. 9 lecture hours/week) (Graded on a pass/fail basis - percentage grade optional.)
69-315 Supply Chain and Border Management
In this course, participants will gain an in-depth understanding of customs procedures and services offered by freight forwarders and customs brokers. This course aims to help learners manage the relationships associated with multiple directional flows of goods and services in a complex, global system. Learners increase their understanding of existing, and evolving, rules and regulations that govern international trade to ensure compliance for the international import/export of goods and services. Learners also develop technical and systems knowledge pertaining to transportation modes, distribution, and logistics. (This is a four-week course. 9 lecture hours/week) (Graded on a pass/fail basis - percentage grade optional.)
69-320 International Business Development, Operations and Planning
In this course, learners gain essential knowledge and skills to expand a business internationally. Key considerations and activities for international business are explored alongside cross-border opportunities and challenges. Correspondingly, learners develop core competencies in business planning, understanding the roles of government agencies, managing strategic alliances, working with multinational workforces, and identifying different sources of funding. Relationships between funding initiatives, government policy, and an organization’s objectives are examined. Course participants utilize tools to develop growth-focused business and entrepreneurial strategies that reflect a dynamic understanding of rules and regulations that govern international trade – equipping the manager/entrepreneur with the ability to tackle international business growth in accordance with trade compliance for effective and seamless flow of cross-border goods and services. (This is a four-week course. 9 lecture hours/week) (Graded on a pass/fail basis - percentage grade optional.)
69-325 International Investment and Growth Strategy
This course equips learners with the tools to identify and evaluate market entry options against a company’s objectives and abilities. Participants learn how to perform a company strategic-needs assessment and determine potential barriers to market entry. Barriers such as regulatory, legal, political, environmental, and cultural vary by case; in turn, a custom, multi-faceted market entry strategy needs to be designed for each case, inclusive of these considerations. The role of free trade agreements and foreign investment promotion are explored to enhance competition across a range of sectors. Participants learn how to identify potential international partners to help bring a company into foreign markets. Finally, participants learn how to negotiate global partnership agreements, and monitor their compliance, to ensure mutual benefit between parties. (This is a four-week course. 9 lecture hours/week) (Graded on a pass/fail basis - percentage grade optional.)
69-330 International Trade Compliance
This course equips learners with various tools to plan, and carry out, trade research effectively and efficiently. Research addresses evolving rules and regulations that govern international trade to poise the learner with the necessary skills to inquire into, and stay abreast of, current developments and regulation. To ensure compliance related to the import/export activities of goods and services and, at the same time promote an authentic international business objective, participants learn to use market intelligence to identify the most promising foreign markets and international business opportunities. (This is a four-week course. 9 lecture hours/week) (Graded on a pass/fail basis - percentage grade optional.)
69-335 International Risk Management and Trade Finance
This course covers the nature and scope of international trade finance. In particular, facilitating trade payment flows across a network of relationships is addressed to ensure effective trade activities. The course topics include the provision of information for a global trade transaction, commercial and country risks that may be encountered during import-export operations, and risk management and mitigation how to manage and mitigate these risks. Risk-mitigation techniques are discussed in terms of legal implications and appropriate practices and the use of these techniques. Participants develop a financial plan for a company’s short-, medium- and long-term needs, including essential data considerations for cash flow analysis. (This is a four-week course. 9 lecture hours/week) (Graded on a pass/fail basis - percentage grade optional.)
69-340 International Marketing and Regulatory Environment
This course identifies the main principles of international marketing and introduces learners to market intelligence, promotional strategies, and e-marketing in order to trade and sell products and/or services globally. Participants learn to recognize the influence of culture, politics, law, and regulatory considerations in international markets alongside building and maintaining international trade relationships with all levels of government. Participants learn why companies must adapt their products and/or services for international markets; in turn, participants prepare a promotional strategy tailored to this objective and the aforementioned considerations in an authentic context. One of the intentions of the course is for participants to develop an international marketing plan designed to assist reaching international marketing and sales goals while considering the domestic and international political contexts that the business operates in. (This is a four-week course. 9 lecture hours/week) (Graded on a pass/fail basis - percentage grade optional.)
In addition to certificate program courses, the Cross-Border Institute is also offering an open access Ontario Online course Introduction to Customs Compliance:
69-200. Introduction to Customs Compliance
This course equips the learner with an overview of evolving customs procedures and regulations applicable to the Canada Customs Act, Customs Tariff Act and Export/Import Permits Act and the necessary skills to inquire into, and stay abreast of, current developments and regulations with respect to import, export and reporting customs clearances. Transactions and accounts based customs procedures are introduced and Canadian procedures are compared with those of other countries. The course provides learners with a basic understanding of goods classification under the Harmonized System Code and knowledge of how to complete the CBSA customs documents while considering multiple perspectives: broker, client, government and other Government of Canada agencies that regulate international trade.