Mission, Objectives, Tasks

Specialized Training Programmes

Working to meet the growing demand for higher professional skills of the state administration, we offer a portfolio of specialized training programmes. They have a wide scope and offer training opportunities for both experts and managers. The programmes include the following major thematic areas:

• Income and living standard;
• Social security;
• Protection against unemployment and employment promotion;
• Labour market;
• Occupation safety and health;
• Demographic policy;
• Social investments, social protection and social integration of groups at risk;
• Equal opportunities policy;
• EU integration and management of projects, financed by European funds.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy has accumulated a lot of experience in the process of EU accession and later on as a member of this organization. It has also acquired experience in EU funds utilization. This experience has been captured and systematized in a package of training programmes, which offer approaches, rules and procedures, illustrated through good practices.

We also offer a modular programme developed in accordance with contemporary standards. The programme aims at induction training of state officials in the system of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. It ends up with a final test and issuance of certificate, indicating the level of acquired knowledge and skills. This modular programme is highly appreciated by the participants since it provides a good start in state administration career development.

The specialized training programmes for the state administration are included in a catalogue and are also tailor-made. They all follow the classic face-to-face training approach.

The catalogues are developed on the basis of regular annual surveys of our clients' needs. Our 2008 catalogue is based on a survey among 1300 potential trainees.

Seminars Organization and Training Methods

We predominantly organize two and three day seminars, most of which are practically oriented. We also offer modular programmes allowing deeper insight of specific issues such as gender equality over a longer period of time.

The following contemporary methods and working approaches are applied in the trainings:

• Methodological guides developed in advance, well structured presentations and hand-outs for the trainees;
• Active involvement of trainees in the training process (learning by doing)
• Training materials such as manuals, laws and documents related to the respective policy, important publications, rules and regulations, statistical data, case studies;
• Deductive-inductive or inductive-deductive approaches are applied with respect to the trainees' level of knowledge;
• Team work and plenary discussions;
• Development of a specific product, for example, logical framework of a project;
• Individual approach, where appropriate;
• Constant feedback from participants regarding study contents.

HIGHER EFFICIENCY THROUGH A FEEDBACK FROM TRAINEES

The training results are evaluated at different levels using a special methodology, which accounts for return of investments. That methodology is one of the most challenging and exciting ways of assessing human resources development as a result of qualification and requalification of staff. It is based on the theory and the practice of the researchers Donald Kirkpatrick and Jack Philips. The methodology is adapted to the specifics of the European models of internal trainings and is used for measuring the results of the trainings from the point of view of their impact on the process of work. It takes into consideration the return of investments by assessing:   the level of satisfaction of the trainees; the improvement of their knowledge and skills; the behavioral change at the work place and the degree of applicability of improved knowledge and skills in the performance of the every day duties.

A team of our experts monitors the satisfaction of trainees on a permanent basis thus ensuring constant increase of the quality of provided services. Data is gathered by tailor-made questionnaires, which include questions on the programme content, the logistics and the quality of teaching. It is processed afterwards by using a special methodology. The processed data represent a valuable source of information, while elaborating the agenda and improving the overall quality of trainings.