ELSA Training: Continuity through quality

YORDAN KYURKCHIYSKI

Director for ELSA Training

ELSA Training is a project that does not require significant and revolutionary reform, but rather efficient and robust management in order to realise its potential. It is no coincidence that the original project’s motto was precisely “continuity through quality”. Accordingly, the focus during the past term lied primarily on improving our existing systems and increasing our capacity to match groups with their desired Trainers.

New Trainers, More Training

With 7 new incoming Trainers joining the International Trainers’ Pool (ITP) in September 2021, we were able to extend broader promotion and successfully respond to a higher number of training requests. As of July 2022, 59 requests were received, and 50 of them resulted in successful trainings - nearly doubling the number of 2020/2021. These trainings were attended by a variety of National and Local Groups from the Network, the International Board and the ELSA International Team.

The past term also saw a major revision of our internal ITP database. Senior Trainers were requested to update their information, while new ones submitted it for the first time. This included an opportunity to change and diversify the training topics offered in order to meet the interests of a wider number of people. For the first time, topics such as Personal Branding became available to the Network. All ITP members were also required in the database review to sign a Voluntary Agreement with ELSA in an attempt to better regulate their status.

More than a Train the Trainers Week

With the experience of online facilitation of the previous year and the feedback from Trainers, the format of the Train the Trainers (“TtT”) was also modified. Instead of occurring in person in a single week, the TtT 2022 spanned over the course of three consecutive weekends in May and June, taking place online in the first two and in-person in Brussels during the last one. This change sought to allow participants with a less flexible working schedule to attend without missing their professional responsibilities. The rewards of the TtT were seen by the addition of 10 new trainers to the ITP before the term was completed.

The new format also alleviates the burden of the TtT’s Organising Committee, since the magnitude of the in-person event is reduced. Additionally, the last TtT weekend is envisaged in the future to coincide with the ITP Refreshment Weekend, giving incoming and existing Trainers the possibility to network, exchange experience and build a closer ITP community.