Training Activity C1 : Italy : 8th-12th July 2019
Training Activity C2 : Malta : November 2020
There will be two cycles of training each one including a preparation and field research before the activity, training days and follow up.
Each training activity will have a validation of the learning activity for every participant.
The training is an important part in the timeline of the project because it is part of a sequence of steps in the development of the RSVP concept:
i. introduction to the CoP concept for newcomers,
ii. establishing a new augmented CoP dynamic from the previous projects and then from C1 to C2,
iii. introducing all partners to research culture in youth and education,
iv. giving format and structure to research activities through non formal training,
v. giving non formal training in peer review and
vi. setting cross border activities in a non formal learning environment and gently forcing the hand of individuals and their organisations to take on the culture of publishing, peer review and quality standards in education through the practice.
Training activities in RSVP are the part of the project being geared towards immediate impact.
Much has been said about instilling the research culture in youth and education but the partnership acknowledges that research does not come naturally to practitioners in any sector. This is the result of a number of factors:
- youth leadership and training are not usually considered an academic professions (at least in practice) and therefore professionals in youth and education would more often than not assume that research is not for them,
- youth leadership and training do not very often leave time and energy for learning and research especially if it comes from one's own initiative and if carried out alone,
- publishing is generally equated with long papers that are the result of extensive research and
- in the case students in early HE (future youth professionals and trainers) think research is for later on in their studies and for the purpose of thesis, dissertation and wherever it is demanded by lecturers in University.
The training activities in RSVP will include:
- training in using the technological tools that the CoP already has in place to facilitate profiling, publishing and cross border peer exchange,
- training methods and quality standards for self-assessment,
- training in peer review and in the validation of creativity, innovation and research sustained content of good quality and
- training in the adoption of the RSVP methodology as a quality strategy by youth organisations and education / training providers.
The locations of the training have been chosen with thought.
They were chosen on the basis of availability of low cost flying and lower cost of accommodation in low seasons and according to the availability of hosting structures by Building Bridges and ValIda.
In spite of these considerations both training activities will be transnational to give the cross border dimension to the CoP at all times which tallies with the spirit of RSVP. This is because although the CoP is a virtual environment it is not meant to substitute face to face cooperation and networking at any time.
Training will be delivered by VisMedNet and ValIda to secure continuity and to exploit the experience from similar training activities carried out in the building of the CoP in education. The experts of VisMedNet also happen to be leading the development of IO1 that includes the dynamics and generation of the Gallery of Research Papers from RSVP. It stands to reason that the same persons will also be the experts delivering the training since the delivery is also considered in this project to be the implementation of the outputs in question.
It is important to note that in order that impact may be maximised the partners will be sending different persons to two training activities and, by way of corollary the minimum number of 40 mini research papers that will be published on the CoP platform will be by 40 different persons.
The two training activities are a unique opportunity in which the individual participants live the CoP experience in a manner that enables them to share the culture of research and publication with their peers back in their organisation.
The project foresees that every partner nominates an Ambassador of Change to support and foster the research culture and the adoption of the RSVP culture within their organisation in general and as support to the training activities.
Trainers from VisMedNet and ValIda will deliver parts of the training content in training C1 and C2.
Participants will be staff members of all the partners and local participants.
Participants in the training will be individuals occupying key positions within the partners who can be catalysts for engagement of more staff members in the RSVP activities and for the sharing of knowledge with colleagues and be able to act as intermediary to invite professionals from policy makers, youth, education and industry into the CoP community. This is especially so in the case of C1 because participants will include the persons that every partner will appoint as its Ambassador of Change.
The sending partners will define the selection procedure and this will follow several steps:
- presentation of the training / mobility opportunity including the preparation and all the four steps of reading research, carrying out some field work / interviews, publishing a mini research paper and peer review.
- invitation to the interested and motivated staff members and creation of a priority shortlist,
- participants' selection according to availability due to other commitments and shows of interest and
- publication of the selection results.
The criteria to be considered in the selection process will be, among others,: motivation, clear goals for the mobility, willingness to share the experience, level of English at least A2 and disseminate acquired skills upon return.
There will be a learning agreement for each participant that will cover the training content, knowledge and skills acquired during the training.
Preparation and monitoring during the mobility will be done by the host organisation and the training providers in order that travel arrangements and safety issues may be taken care of jointly. There will be preparatory email and information exchange to follow all the necessary steps for the organisation of the mobility.
The training activity will be hosted in the premises of the hosting partners that are covered by safety certifications by local authorities and are insured for injury. They have a team of staff with ample experience for the organisation of logistical planning and organisation of activities. All local transport will be made by officially licensed and insured transporters.