CANCELLED - ETS training course - COMETS on Being Civically Engaged

In the context of the European Training Strategy (ETS) the SALTO Training & Cooperation Resource Centre (SALTO T&C RC) developed the Competence Model for Trainers Working at International Level. The COMETS training courses – or rather learning experiences – were developed as a support for trainers in their competence development, each course focusing on one competence area of the above-mentioned model. Hence, with this call, JUGEND für Europa, the German National Agency for Erasmus+ Youth in Action together with SALTO T&C RC invite trainers to take part in this seventh edition of COMETS: ‘Being civically engaged’.

This particular dimension from the model encompasses the following competences:

• Linking (youth) policies and educational programmes

• Integrating political values and beliefs in the context of the trainers work

• Supporting learners in developing political thinking

• Applying democracy and human rights principles

Taking the above into account, the intentions of the course are:

• To explore the personal, internal and external influences on the role of trainers (politics, policies, environment, social and economical contexts, etc.);

• To reflect and share on the notions of ethics and ethos of trainers;

• To work on the attitudes of trainers with regards to authenticity, openness, curiosity and dealing with personally challenging values and beliefs;

• To reflect on and explore the possible limits of the ‘civic/political role of trainers’ in their practice;

• To reflect on human rights principles and human rights education in the work of trainers.

COMETS training courses intend principally to offer trainers a space to reflect, exchange and contrast their practice and understanding with regard to a certain ETS competence area. The main purpose is to enable participants to take further steps in their professional practice. This is not a classical training course in the sense of receiving tools and development of the practical aspect of being a trainer. The focus of a COMETS is more introspective, requiring self-examination of practice, attitude, understanding and behaviour, as well as a desire to improve in one’s practice.

No matter the focus on each course, COMETS are all based on a series of principles, which are:

• Awareness: me – the group – the field – the context;

• Readiness to question and to review practice;

• Readiness to stretch boundaries;

• Being explicit about choices as trainers;

• Integrity: Walk the talk!

• Giving space to the whole person: body - mind - soul - heart;

• Awareness: Being here as learner in a community of learners;

• Giving to Caesar what’s Caesars’: acknowledging [re]sources of practice.

The team of trainers for this COMETS edition are Christin Voigt and Nik Paddison. Following the selection process, the training team will contact the participants with specific information and tasks regarding the further development of the programme. This is to ensure that the needs of the participants will be taken into account in order to maximise the potential the course offers.

Participant profile:

COMETS is a non-classical training for trainers which provides advanced trainers at international level with opportunities to come together to reflect upon, discuss and develop. In the context of COMETS, ‘advanced’ means that the trainer-learner has the capacity to direct their own learning and in particular, the ability to self-assess their own competences.

The general aims of the COMETS training courses are:

• To contribute to quality development of youth work and of training practise in the field;

• To put the ETS competence model into practice;

• To support National Agencies and other youth sector organizations in working with trainers on competence development;

• To contribute to the professional development of trainers in the field.

Please find attached the guiding principles developed for the COMETS training courses and at www.salto-youth.net/COMETS further information around the series of COMETS.

In cooperation with some Erasmus+: Youth in Action National Agencies SALTO T&C RC has developed a strategy to provide opportunities for trainers to develop their competences according to their needs and needs of training providers like National Agencies. Please find more information on www.salto-youth.net/trainercompetencedevelopment