INTERNATIONAL. The Duty Free World Council (DFWC) has suspended the activities of the DFWC Academy following the decision by its partner – the Institute of International Retail (IIR) – to place the company into voluntary liquidation.
Earlier today, we reported on retail training specialist IIR’s move towards liquidation as highlighted by Irish media title Business Post. Separately, we have reached out to IIR for comment.
As reported, the DFWC Academy launched the first Certificate course in duty free & travel retail in 2019, with the initial intake of online students from September that year. The aim was to develop a set of professional global qualifications for staff working in the duty free & travel retail sector, with course content managed by IIR.
In a statement this evening, DFWC said it had suspended the training courses with “great regret”, noting the dramatic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry, with companies cutting discretionary costs, including in staff training.
It noted: “Despite strenuous efforts by both the DFWC and IIR to maintain the Academy and promote Academy courses in 2020 – including the provision of a free ‘Return to Work’ course, slashing registration fees for the Certificate course to €50, attempts to raise bursaries etc. – income to the Academy has dried up since the end of July.”
The DFWC said it did not foresee prospects for student enrolments improving “until the industry’s recovery is well under way”. The Council added that it is “in discussion with IIR over potential support for any students yet to complete their courses, and over opportunities to protect the significant body of work enshrined in the courses”.
As reported previously, content was developed with IIR alongside an Academic Advisory Board of leading travel retailers and brands including ARI, Dufry, Dubai Duty Free, Lagardère Travel Retail, L’Oréal, Mondelez and Brown-Forman. Financial support for the project came from TFWA as well as from Dufry and Dubai Duty Free.
We understand that the course content was positively received by participants and their employer companies, with DFWC (supported by TFWA) keen to renew training programmes for front-line staff and management once appropriate.
DFWC concluded: “As the year progresses and as the duty free & travel retail industry begins its recovery, the DFWC will review potential future opportunities for the DFWC Academy.”
