The economy of scale of a large event and the high attendance should allow the Centre to keep individual participation fees to a minimum9; and More time to design and deliver custom, or tailor-made learning activities.
2. Focus on tailor-made activities Tailor made learning activities are increasingly recognized as the most effective means to have a real-measurable impact on professional and organizational development needs. These activities are usually designed jointly with the requesting partner organization and at times with a targeted sample audience. By developing a learning initiative or project together with the partner institution, rather than submitting a final product to be approved, the relevance of the activities may be substantially increased. ITC ILO staff must be better equipped to react to requests for tailor made courses. The Compass and other initiatives within the Staff Development Programme on Learning Design and Technology are designed to address this challenge. The spectrum of capacity development services offered by the Centre may also be expanded in order to address to increasing trend for experiential, just-intime learning opportunities. Therefore, combining courses with study visits, internships, individual research, and on-line collaboration through communities of practice should be considered where the situations warrant alternative interventions.
3. Systematic application of the Turin Learning Approach The data derived from course evaluations, in combination with contemporary research, clearly demonstrates that the learning methods promoted through the Turin Learning Approach10 (TLA) have a profound positive impact on the participant experience. Therefore, it is important that not only Centre staff, but also external collaborators, experts and other professionals that intervene in learning activities apply the Turin Learning Approach. From the initiation of any partnerships, these principles should be clearly established, and support or suggestions should be offered for all types of interventions to ensure that the fundamental principles developed by the ITC-ILO are applied. A practical approach is to provide clear instructions accompanied by the relevant technology or methodology instructional fiches11 contained in the Compass (http://www.box.net/share/729p7jh6ls). Another important aspect of the TLA is the willingness and ability to adjust sessions according to learning needs. This occasionally must be done at the last minute according to late or informal feedback. Although challenging, it is important to ensure that the learning sessions are aligned with objectives and contexts to have the desired impact.
4. Studies and analyses The time saved by clustering open courses in a given period of the year could be utilized by some Programmes for research and analyses aiming at improving the content of the training activities. The research activity could be enhanced through establishing contracts in particular with the European Commission which would cover the time that the staff concerned would devote to research. This activity could be done in collaboration with the technical sectors of the ILO in Geneva. The options above are currently under consideration and testing to address the challenges faced by the Centre. Whether the trends are a result of the economic crisis, or a consequences or a changing global culture, the ITC ILO must be prepared to react in a progressive and sustainable way. The original document detailing the possible alternatives 9
Fees for individual participation in large events are often lower than those for participation in an open/standard course of the same duration. 10 Turin Learning Approach (TLA) brochure is available at: http://www.itcilo.org/en/about-thecentre/tla-brochure 11 A series of short instructional fiches is being developed on an ongoing basis. They are available for internal use at: http://www.box.net/shared/729p7jh6ls
