Training of Trainers (ToT) for European Youth in Action Projects

Within this Training of Trainers course (ToT-course) participants have the chance to further develop their competences as a trainer. The ToT-course considers the following 7 competences to be essential when working as a non-formal education trainer within the Youth in Action programme and its successor programme from 2014:

• The competence to plan educational activities in line with the values and purposes of the programmes.  
• The competence to develop and make explicit an educational approach which incorporates the key-concepts, values and consolidated practice of non-formal education.
• The competence to direct one´s own learning (Learning to Learn)
• The competence to deal with ambiguity and change.
• The competence to understand and facilitate learning of others.
• The competence to design, implement and evaluate training programmes.
• The competence to co-operate in international teams of trainers/facilitators.

Participants enter the ToT-course with various levels of prior experience as trainer as well as competences developed - consequently, the learning needs of participants are different. The educational approach implemented in the ToT-course intends to allow for these different learning needs to be identified and pursued. At the core of this process is the competence of the participant to direct his/her own learning. The group as a source for peer learning and the trainers as facilitators of these learning processes are essential pillars of this approach.

This Training of Trainers lasts a year and consists of

• Three residential seminars (Seminar 1: 6-15 October 2013 in Sweden; Seminar 2: 24 January – 2 February 2014 in Spain; Seminar 3: 21-29 June 2014 in Italy)
• An international training project you design and run with some other participants
• Online work between the residential seminars
• Ongoing mentoring with one of the course trainers as your mentor

This course requires a considerable time investment from the participants: in total you should plan at least 57 days:

• 30 seminar days (including travel)
• 12 days overall for the training project (preparatory work, prep meeting and the course itself)
• 15 days (on average 1-2 days per month) for following the personal learning commitments, the online work, peer learning, mentor talks etc.

Participants are expected

• To have been already involved at least three times in a team of trainers designing, implementing and evaluating a training course in the framework of Non-Formal Education.
• To have had international experience in the youth work field with a function of responsibility (not only as a participant) – organising international youth projects, leading a youth exchange, mentoring EVS volunteers, etc.
• To have the potential and need to develop training competences and act after the course as a trainer for the successor programme of Youth in Action and/or for training courses organised by the National Agencies.
• To show initiative and willingness to self-direct their own learning process.
• To be prepared to reflect on and question their own beliefs and approaches as trainers.
• To be able to run training courses in English.

Further information on ToT and Blended Learning, the mentoring system and guiding principle of the team and the Self Perception Inventory Tool you can find here.

 

Participants will be selected by the National Agencies for the Youth in Action programme which covers the expenses related to the participation in the course (travel, board and lodging, fee). Participation fees need to be checked with your National Agency, they might differ from country to country.

The course is delivered by a European trainers team consisting of Hazel Low, Paul Kloosterman and Peter Hofmann (as trainer and co-ordinator).

The ToT 2013-2014 involves only trainers living in the following countries: The Flemish and the French speaking communities of Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

All above fits for you? Then apply here: http://trainings.salto-youth.net/3488, deadline to apply is 2 June 2013, applicants will be informed about selection result by 30 June 2013.