The Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) is designed to provide certification of the academic, vocational and technical achievement of students in the Caribbean who, having completed a minimum of five years of secondary education, wish to further their studies. The examinations address the skills and knowledge acquired by students under a flexible and articulated system where subjects are organised in 1-Unit or 2-Unit courses with each Unit containing three Modules. Subjects examined under CAPE may be studied concurrently or singly.
The Caribbean Examinations Council offers three types of certification at the CAPE level. The first is the award of a certificate showing each CAPE Unit completed. The second is the CAPE Diploma, awarded to candidates who have satisfactorily completed at least six Units, including Caribbean Studies. The third is the CXC Associate Degree, awarded for the satisfactory completion of a prescribed cluster of eight CAPE Units including Caribbean Studies, Communication Studies and Integrated Mathematics. Integrated Mathematics is not a requirement for the CXC Associate Degree in Mathematics. The complete list of Associate Degrees may be found in the CXC Associate Degree Handbook.
For the CAPE Diploma and the CXC Associate Degree, candidates must complete the cluster of required Units within a maximum period of five years. To be eligible for a CXC Associate Degree, the educational institution presenting the candidates for the award, must select the Associate Degree of choice at the time of registration at the sitting (year) the candidates are expected to qualify for the award. Candidates will not be awarded an Associate Degree for which they were not registered.
Globalisation has resulted in a significant increase in world trade and has impacted on the size and complexity of international transportation. However, Caribbean countries have not been sufficiently responsive to the impact of these global changes. Consequently, the movement of cargo throughout the region has become more expensive than the rest of the world. In addition, there is a wide disparity between countries and ports of the region in terms of productivity as the countries have not kept pace with the advances in information technology. In order to meet global requirements, Caribbean countries are required to constantly dredge and upgrade port infrastructure in order to remain relevant. The pressure on the Caribbean has not just been on the physical infrastructure but on developing and retaining qualified human resources. As a result, Caribbean ports have now recognised the need to invest in the development of the human resources in the shipping and logistics industry. This has led to the emergence of Logistics and Supply Chain Operations as a relevant area of study. Logistics and Supply Chain Operations is the task of effectively and efficiently coordinating material flow and the storage of goods, services and related information from the point of origin to the point of consumption for the purpose of conforming to customer requirements.
The study of Logistics and Supply Chain Operations will assist in satisfying the demand for logistics experts through formal preparation and certification of the human resources in the Caribbean. This will enable citizens to access employment this untapped market space and contribute to regional development. It will also lead to a better quality of life for present and future generations while providing wealth creation through new and innovative job opportunities and other economic possibilities including entrepreneurship. By pursuing this course of study, students will develop decision-making, problem solving, critical thinking and technological skills. This course is designed to provide the knowledge, skills and competencies that are required for further studies, as well as for the world of work.
Based on the attributes of the Ideal Caribbean Person as articulated by CARICOM, this course of study in CAPE Logistics and Supply Chain Operations can contribute to the development of a Caribbean person who is aware of living in harmony with the environment; demonstrates multiple literacies, independent and critical thinking, questions the practices of past and present and brings this to bear on the innovative application of science and technology to problem solving; and values and displays the creative imagination in its various manifestations and nurtures its development in economic and entrepreneurial spheres in all other areas of life. With reference to the UNESCO Pillars of Learning, this course of study will also contribute to a person who will learn to know, learn to do, learn to live together, learn to be and learn to transform oneself and society.
This syllabus aims to:
- promote an awareness of the importance of the global logistics and supply chain industry;
- help students understand the impact of globalisation and global logistics on multi-modal transport in the Caribbean;
- create awareness of the impact of regulatory bodies on national and regional policies;
- help students understand the role and value of stakeholders and information systems in logistics;
- foster an understanding of the impact of logistics on economic development at the national, regional and international levels;
- develop the capacity for critical thinking, creativity, problem solving, leadership and management, positive cooperative behaviours, emotional intelligence, entrepreneurial skills and technological competence through authentic learning experiences; and
- integrate information, communication and technological (ICT) tools and skills.
The skills and abilities that students are expected to develop on completion of this syllabus have been grouped under three headings:
- Knowledge and Comprehension;
- Use of Knowledge; and
- Interpretation and Application.
Knowledge and Comprehension
The examination will test candidates’ skills and ability to:
- grasp and recall basic facts, concepts, and principles of logistics and supply chain operations and their roles in national and regional economies;
- understand the diverse functions in logistics and supply chain on the global economy; and
- understand the impact of workforce diversity on logistics and supply chain operations.
Use of Knowledge
The examination will test candidates’ skills and ability to:
- select and use facts and concepts in formulating solutions to logistics and supply chain problems; and
- distinguish among various components of logistics and supply chain at the local and global scale.
Interpretation and Application
The examination will test candidates’ ability to:
- assemble and analyse relevant data and information to make projections on sole logistics related problems;
- draw logical conclusions and make recommendations about logistics and supply chain issues; and
- analyse case studies of nations that have logically developed logistics infrastructure to take a competitive advantage.
Any person who has completed five years of secondary education or its equivalent should normally be able to pursue the course of study defined by the syllabus. A good grasp of the contents of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Information Technology, Economics, Social Studies and Geography Syllabuses or the equivalent would be an advantage. However, successful participation in the course of study will also depend on the possession of good numeracy, verbal and written communication skills.
The subject is organised in two (2) Units. A Unit comprises three (3) Modules each requiring fifty (50) hours. The total time for each Unit, is therefore, expected to be one hundred and fifty (150) hours. Each Unit can independently offer students a comprehensive programme of study with appropriate balance between depth and coverage to provide a basis for further study in this field.
UNIT 1: CONCEPTUAL ISSUES IN LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN
Module 1 – Logistics and Its Role in the Economy
Module 2 – Supply Chain and the Global economy
Module 3 – Customer Service in Shipping and Port Operations
UNIT 2: SHIPPING AND PORT OPERATIONS
Module 1 – Commercial Shipping
Module 2 – Port Operations
Module 3 – Logistics Transforming Economies