The High School hosted the opening of the Summer School of Coaching Excellence, an annual educational platform designed to promote the professional development of coaches and maintain their professionalism at a high level.
This year, more than 300 participants, representatives of state and local authorities, higher education institutions and training centres, international and Ukrainian experts joined the educational space of practitioners.
The focus of the Summer School 2024 was on modern trends, training technologies and educational innovations in the professional training of public servants.
The event was co-organised by the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service, the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy, UNDP in Ukraine, the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine, UN Women in Ukraine, the EU Project ‘Support to Comprehensive Public Administration Reform in Ukraine’, the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), the Council of Europe’s HELP (Human Rights Education for Lawyers) Project for Ukraine, and the NGO UA Experts.
During the opening ceremony, the participants were welcomed by Natalia Alushyna, Head of the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service, Yulia Chornobrov, Head of the National Commission for State Language Standards, Julia Brusard, UN Women Deputy Representative in Ukraine, and Jaco Silje, EU4PAR Project Manager of the EU Support to Comprehensive Public Administration Reform in Ukraine, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine, Nadiya Prokopenko, Representative of the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine, Olha Kostenko, International Project Manager of the Council of Europe HELP (Human Rights Education for Lawyers) Project for Ukraine, Hrachik Yarmaloyan, Deputy Director of the German Society for International Cooperation GIZ.
‘The availability of a system of practice-oriented professional training for public servants is a factor in the sustainability of public administration. That is why it is so important to ensure a continuous process of professional development of civil servants. ‘We need a corps of qualified trainers, systems for their training and professional development,’ said Nataliia Aliushyna, Head of the NAUCS, in her welcoming speech. ’Life in war conditions sets additional requirements for the system of professional education, teachers and trainers. Teaching skills alone are no longer enough for effective interaction. We need a comprehensive case of professional and personal competence. A trainer is first and foremost a mentor who helps to unlock potential and reach new heights. This is how we direct the educational vector of the Summer School of Coaching Excellence. We help to master the tools for creating interactive courses, taking into account the individual and professional needs of our trainees.’
It should be noted that during 2023-2024, the High School, with the support of the NAUCS and international partners, implemented 13 trainings for trainers. The result is 460 certified trainers.
To develop unified approaches to professional training, 12 standard training programmes have been developed. During the Summer School, trainers are trained according to the curricula for training future tutors of the Council of Europe’s HELP Programme for Human Rights Education for Lawyers, psychosocial support, gender-oriented approach in the budget process, gender-based violence, and access to public information.
The programme includes professional discussions on current European trends and relevant areas of professional development for public servants. Experienced experts, together with the School participants, addressed key issues: whom we train, what knowledge and skills we teach, for what purpose and with what tools.
In addition, 5 manuals for trainers and the study ‘Motivation and Barriers to Engaging Civil Servants in Coaching Teaching: Survey Results’ were presented.
The Higher School also recognised the best teaching practices – institutions and trainers – for their contribution to the development of professional training of civil servants.
Without proper training of trainers and quality educational services, it is impossible to implement effective professional development programmes. Therefore, the Summer School of Coaching Excellence provides participants with opportunities not only to acquire theoretical knowledge of training, but also to gain practical skills, master interactive teaching methods and, as a result, receive a certificate confirming their qualifications. In addition, they will be included in the database of trainers of the High School and will be able to participate in the implementation of advanced training programmes for public servants.
