Training of Trainers (ToT) for European Erasmus+ Youth and European Solidarity Corps Projects 2024/2025
Objectives:
- To develop trainers’ competences according to the ETS Competence Model for Trainers;
- To increase the understanding of educational approaches, training principles and methodologies in the context of Non-Formal Learning;
- To clarify the political and institutional context of the Erasmus+ Youth and European Solidarity Corps programmes;
- To support participants in assessing their competences and learning needs as trainers and motivate them to act as self-directed learners;
- To offer professional development opportunities such as real-life international training practice and mentoring;
- To contribute to a reflective and civically engaged community of practice in the European youth work training field.
Dates and time commitments:
ToT lasts nine months and consists of:
- 3 residential seminars;
- 1 pre-funded international training project you will design and deliver with other ToT participants;
- Ongoing e-learning;
- Ongoing mentoring with one of the course trainers.
The dates for the three residential seminars are:
- Seminar 1: Budapest, 14-22 September 2024
- Seminar 2: Bonn, 7-14 December 2024
- Seminar 3: Venue to be confirmed, 25-31 May 2025
An online onboarding meeting will take place on September 6th 2024 from 19h00 to 20h30 CEST (Brussels time).
Note: Participants are expected to attend all of the activities above and to participate responsibly throughout the online work required. In total participants should allocate at least 55 days:
- 24 seminar days (including travel)
- 16 days overall for the Training Practice Course (preparatory work, prep meeting and the course itself)
- 16 days (on average 1-2 days per month) for following the personal learning commitments, the online work, peer learning, mentor talks etc.
Competences you will develop:
Within this ToT course participants have the chance to further develop their competences as trainers. In line with the ETS Trainers’ competence framework ToT course considers the following competences to be essential when working as a non-formal education trainer working internationally:
- Understand and facilitate individual and group learning processes;
- Design educational programmes;
- Direct one's own learning (Learning to Learn);
- Co-operate successfully in teams;
- Communicate meaningfully with others;
- Intercultural competence;
- Being civically engaged.
ToT Educational Approach:
Participants enter the ToT course with various levels of prior experience as trainers 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 capacity of participants to direct their own learning journey. The group as a source for peer learning and the trainers as facilitators of these learning processes are also essential pillars of this approach.
Participants profile:
- To be able to attend and deliver training courses in English;
- 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 be ready and willing to develop training competences and act after the course as a trainer for European Erasmus+ Youth or European Solidarity Corps projects and/or for training courses organised by the National Agencies of the programmes;
- To show initiative and willingness to self-direct their learning process and contribute to other participants' learning journeys;
- To be prepared to reflect on and question their own beliefs and approaches as trainers.
