For the intake of 2008, CATS is proud to have been able to accommodate 23 students with various participating companies, those being TransNamib Holdings, Transworld Cargo, Cymot, African Marketing, Manica Group Namibia, Agra, Maersk  Line, Tunacor Fisheries and African Packaging. The number of participating companies has grown steadily over the past few years and that is a clear indicator that the program meets the expectation of industry.
The Commercial Advance-ment Training Scheme (CATS) is a unique initia-tive as it was established by various companies and other institutions in respon-se to the severe commer-cial skills shortages that are being experienced in Namibia. It is a pro– active approach which has already borne fruit in many ways to those companies that have participated.
CATS offers a cost effec-tive two - year program that is modeled on the dual system used in Germany. The training is focused at junior managers and those destined to become mana-gers and combines both theoretical learning (offered by the Polytechnic of Namibia’s Centre for Entrepreneurial Develop-ment) and practical experience to be obtained in the company. The subjects aim to give trai-nees the basic commercial grounding for their careers.
The students spend four days per week at their places of work (Monday to Thursday) and one and a half days of training at the Polytechnic of Namibia (Friday and Saturday). During the four days per week the trainees spend at work they are rotated through the different departments to gain experience in each department. At the Polytechnic the students receive high quality training which comple-ments their learning at the workplace. At the end of the program the successful trainees graduate with a certificate in Applied Business Process Management which is recognized in Namibia, South Africa and by the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK).
Contact Details:
Commercial Advancement Training Scheme
5, von Braun Street
P.O.Box 31068, Windhoek
Tel:   061-371 194/5
Fax: 061-371 196
Email: info@catsnamibia.org
Website: www.catsnamibia.org