Training of Trainers for European Erasmus+: Youth in Action Projects 2020/2021

NB: Please note that we are determined and hopeful to conduct our Training of Trainers in 2020, even in light of the ongoing Corona/ Covid-19 crisis. The dates of the residential training courses might however be subject of change and will be adjusted, if needed. Furthermore, online learning might potentially play a more prominent role in this edition of ToT.

This Training of Trainers (ToT) lasts ca. one year and consists of:

• three residential seminars
• an international training project you design and run with some other participants
• ongoing e-learning
• ongoing mentoring with one of the course trainers as your mentor
• learning commitments

The dates for the three residential seminars are:

• SEMINAR 1: 18 September – 27 September 2020 in Portugal;
• SEMINAR 2: 15 - 24 January 2021 in Germany;
• SEMINAR 3: 19 - 26 June 2021 in Italy;

This course requires a considerable time investment from the participants: in total you should plan at least 55 days:

• 28 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.

Within this ToT-course participants have the chance to further develop their competences as a trainer. In line with the European Training Strategy in the frame of Erasmus+: Youth in Action programme the ToT-course considers the following competences to be essential when working as a non-formal education trainer within the Youth in Action programme:

• The competence to understand and facilitate individual and group learning processes.
• The competence to design educational programmes.
• The competence to direct one´s own learning (Learning to Learn)
• The competence to co-operate successfully in teams.
• The competence to communicate meaningfully with others.
• Intercultural competence.
• Being civically engaged.

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.

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 volunteers, etc.
• To have the potential and need to develop training competences and act after the course as a trainer for European Erasmus+: Youth in Action projects and/or for training courses organised by the National Agencies of the Erasmus+: Youth in Action Programme.
• 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.

Participating countries: Belgium (FL), Belgium (FR), Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland

Further information can be found at www.salto-youth.net/ToT and in the download below.