ITA-CET Foundation on Education and Training for Tunneling and Underground Space Use

Editorial, Mr. Felix Amberg

Felix Amberg, Fondator and owner of Amberg group

Exactly one year ago, on 29. September 2009, ITA CET Foundation came to life in its inaugural meeting in Lausanne. Not more than 12 months have past and the foundation is already busy in reacting to a lot of requests coming from many countries to organize training sessions.

This is a very positive development as it shows that ITA CET Foundation takes up and responds to a substantial need of our industry. Thanks to the close interaction with the ITA CET Committee it has been possible so far to for the ITA CET Foundation to deliver the services and support the queries have been asking for. The positive and stimulating start is also reflected in the first balance sheets of the foundation which show a small surplus in the operational activities and which is far better than the budgeted deficit. The ITA CET Foundation also could welcome new main donors and regular donors which have increased the funds of the foundation significantly (for more information go to http://foundation.itacet.org/organization_founders_donors.php)

However this positive and stimulating reception of ITA CET also has put quite a pressure on all parties: the ITA CET foundation and its operative arm, the Executive Board and the ITA CET Committee as well. In order to satisfy the demands and requests for training courses and seminars, the corresponding programs of the courses had to be set up, speakers to be identified, the quality of the presentations to be ensured and a lot of administrative matters to be taken care of. The Executive Board worked hard in the last months to cope with the high demand.

In parallel to the work on the training courses, all necessary administrative and organisational structures and procedures of the ITA CET Foundation have to be put in place – a process which is not yet terminated and which will need additional efforts and the close attention of both the Council of the Foundation and the Executive Board in the coming months. It is of the outmost importance that the ITA CET Foundation is able to quickly establish reliable and easy to handle procedures and processes for an efficient work while securing simultaneously a high quality of all rendered services.

Already now it also has become apparent that the available resources are not enough to cope with the demand and consequently the Council of the Foundation has approved to enlarge the staff. In a couple of weeks a secretary will support the Executive Board in its activities.

But also the ITA CET Committee has been facing a challenge too. New forms of training courses were proposed and syllabus of new courses had to be approved (you may find the updated portfolio under http://foundation.itacet.org/courses_portfolio.php. ITA CET also was contacted to support training courses for professionals (non academic persons) – an interesting new field of training and education which ITA CET will certainly pay attention to.

All this underlines the importance that is accredited to the work of ITA CET and it proves that ITA has made a decisive move to satisfy the need for training and education. These are very positive and encouraging signs for everybody within ITA supporting and working for ITA CET and they will help them to master the challenges ahead.

Mr. Felix Amberg is President and owner of the Amberg Group

"Design and Construction of Immersed Tunnels"

5-6 October 2010 in Abu-Dhabi.

Overview of the training session:

Session 1: Overview and Introduction

Session 2: Sizing and Designing the Structure

Session 3: Construction, Afloat and Geotechnical

Session 4: Final Operations, Risk and the Future

Program is available>>

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Training session - 10.2010 - Buenos Aires

"Construction Methods for Tunnelling"

22-23 October 2010 in Buenos AIres.

Programme is available>>

For registration and any further information please contact:

TRADESHOW S.A. info@tradeshowsa.com.ar
(54 11) 4372-3519 / 4371-5759 / 4371-0083

Tucumán 1625 2º "A" (1050)
Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires
Argentina