Funding sources

Project is financed by the Erasmus+ Programme, the European Union Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport 2014-2020.

Project purpose

The main purpose of the project was to enhance the key skills of the trainer educators and trainers in the public administration sector, by providing ideas and tools that would equip and encourage them to deliver an effective, innovative and interactive trainings to the public sector.

Beneficiaries

The main target of the project were trainer educators and trainers working with public sector audiences, who wished to improve their teaching skills as well as to keep up with the latest trend and achievements in the field of trainings methodology.

The project was delivered in cooperation with the Latvian School of Public Administration (LSPA – leading partner) and Finnish Institute of Public Management Ltd. (HAUS).

Description

Within the framework of the project the participant institutions have designed a sample course for trainer educators and trainers of public sector that stimulates innovative and interactive approaches to training and learning.

The international project team of trainers has selected, tested and described learning activities and methods that stimulate innovation and leadership development in public sector, and proposed a Course Guidelines for their effective delivery.

The Course consists of the following seven modules:

• Effective Trainer
  Module covers such topics as different roles of trainer; trainer’s competences; assumptions about trainer’s work; active listening; adult learning principles.
• Planning and Delivering the Training
  Module covers such topics as target audience analysis; setting aims and objectives for training and learning; understanding macro and micro learning; ways of delivering the learning content; interactive learning; learning at workplace; flipped learning.
• Design Thinking for Learning
  Module covers such topics as essentials for making training great; planning learning by using instructional design approaches; design thinking to learn about learners; tools used in design thinking (User Profile/Persona, Customer Journey Map).
• Interactive Ways of Working with Groups
  Module covers such topics as participatory methods; leadership development; principles for effective group facilitation; Open Space Technology.
• Digital Dimension to Training
  Module covers such topics as understanding digital dimension; digital learners; specifics of planning and delivering digital training; trainer’s approach.
• Role Plays and Games
  Module covers such topics as specifics of using role plays and games in learning; pros and cons of using role-plays; using metaphoric cards; Barnga game.
• Professional Development and Inspirations
  Module covers such topics as introduction of WOOP - a self-development strategy; mastermind groups; challenges during training; building resilience during a difficult training situation.

Each module encompasses some theoretical input, as well as practical learning activities with detailed delivery descriptions and worksheet or handout templates. Similar to the approach of module selection, trainers can also choose which of the activities included in each of the module they find the most relevant for their purposes.

Each module is created and can be delivered as a stand-alone seminar. Thus, the Course is based on the approach of a jigsaw puzzle, i.e., it is possible for trainers to select the modules that are most interesting, useful and appropriate for their specific goals, audience and create an individual training programme.

It is suggested that trainers apply the participatory/interactive techniques, such as interactive presentations, case studies, discussions, buzz groups, pair work/group work etc.

The learning and teaching can take place both in the face-to-face setting, as well as online. Trainers can hold webinars and organise learning by using the means of new technologies.

The Course has an emphasis on both the professional, as well as personal development of trainers. The international project team from KSAP, LSPA and HAUS have agreed that for an individual to be a successful trainer, it is highly important to have an understanding of themselves, their motivation, strengths and areas for improvement in their role as a trainer.

Results

The implementation took place dfrom December 2017 to September 2019, when the project had been fully delivered.

During the process of the designing a course, 44 trainers from Polish public administration were involved through the participation in the workshop sessions aiming at developing most suitable solutions for the public administration internal trainers.

After the completion of the project, all course materials, formulated in English, were translated into partner’s national languages and freely distributed online at web pages of all partner organisations.

The materials can be used by individuals and institutions to implement the proposed course programme, design their own training programme or run a workshop by using materials produced by the project.

Publication

A PDF file containing the online publication can be accessed here:

• Training Educators in the Public Sector