Lessons previously learned

Lessons learned from past initiatives to train coffee professionals (technicians and marketers) from producing countries have shown that:

• The international need for training is ongoing, but has often been neglected by both the coffee industry and authorities. Ideally an element of permanency should be provided.
• Training nationals of producing countries will always require the generous and voluntary assistance of the international coffee trade.
• A more formal, continuous programme would facilitate access to such assistance and would help to ensure that available training opportunities are appropriately structured and utilized.
• This would also prevent frivolous requests for training from reaching collaborating companies.
• Training requirements are not always correctly identified. Sometimes too much attention is paid to sophisticated techniques and too little time is spent on learning the basics of the business.
• Scarce training opportunities are wasted when unqualified candidates are put forward or participants are subsequently transferred or resign.
• It is neither productive nor cost-effective to send people abroad for training if they have no basic knowledge of coffee. Such candidates should first attend an introductory course.
• Attention must be paid to potential language problems. Where appropriate supporting language training courses must be provided.