Training activities are designed and implemented following a systematic and comprehensive process. This process is geared to suit the needs of the project partners to successfully execute their project. More so, with the capacities acquired, project partners can ultimately feed into the development of national ICT policies of their respective countries.

IICD, together with its National Training Partners, offers three main types of training activities.

• Technical Update Seminars
• On-the-Job Trainings
• Lifelong Learning Skills workshops

Technical Update Seminars

For those employing ICT for sustainable Development (ICT4D), it is essential to keep abreast of the fast developments in software tools, hardware & systems, procurement, licensing and such. Similarly, many past and current ICT4D initiatives across the globe are providing inspiration and valuable lessons for activities within our focal countries. Despite a wealth of information available via electronic means, partners and third parties have indicated their desire for in-depth knowledge transfer and discussions. When information is presented and packaged to suit the contexts and requirements of the target audience, the learning results are much greater.

Therefore, IICD’s National Training Partners organise and execute one or two-day Technical Update Seminars. These are primarily intended for people who are planning or already involved in programmes or projects resulting from an ICT Roundtable workshop. The key aim of each seminar is to enhance awareness and build knowledge about topical and project-appropriate developments in ICT.

Experts and guest speakers from sector institutions and industry provide additional instruction and information for these seminars where appropriate. Informative presentations and interactive discussions cover issues determined by the training partners, networking partners and project partners. Focus group meetings (evaluation gatherings among project partners) increasingly provide base for determining themes for upcoming Seminars.

On-the-Job Trainings

On-the-Job trainings fill in the lack of practical ICT skills and knowledge required to effectively manage and develop a project. The learning context must take place in, or mimic, the actual tasks and working environment. Varying in details and proportions with each project context, On-the-Job training addresses both diminishing gaps and difficulties in existing sets of skills as well as future-oriented skills.

On-the-Job trainings can be implemented according to two main models. The first workshop-based model is applied when needs assessments indicate overlap in needs for ICT skills among disparate projects. Where geographic proximity allows, collective training workshops are held to address specific work-related skills. Following the collective workshop, the National Training Partner visits the project on location to remedy remaining skills deficiencies, and to improve the integration of ICT tools into project work. This should maximise the project workers’ capacities to achieve project goals.

The second project-based model is applied when training needs and gaps identified are project-specific. The entire On-the-Job training may take place on location of the actual project. This approach allows a direct skills enhancement in the technical and institutional context of the projects, minimising efforts and funds spent on training not directly related to the specific project.

Whichever approach is most appropriate for given thematic and project contexts, general underlying training principles do exist. Both workshop and project-based trainings are designed around proven teaching and learning techniques such as Mastery Learning and Productive Learning, and trainings are delivered by Subject-Matter Experts.

Participants are provided with subject information, materials, tools and expert guidance so they can indicate areas where remedial learning activities are required. As such, the participants and the trainer share the responsibility for successful learning.

Lifelong Learning Skills workshops

Lifelong Learning Skills workshops are training interventions executed by IICD in close cooperation with National Training Partners. These workshops are unique because they take place solely following an ICT Roundtable workshop. During the Roundtable workshop, a number of project ideas emerge. Two to six weeks later, project managers and technology support persons (i.e. those responsible for further formulation and implementation of the project ideas) attend a four to five-day Lifelong Learning Skills workshop.

During these intensive workshops, participants gain familiarity with the scope of possibilities of employing ICT for development of the respective sector. Project ideas are actively advanced from concepts to practical ICT prototypes. The execution and methodology of the workshop involves presentations, conceptual exercises, discussions, hands-on exercises, experimentation, and individual and group projects. Technology-Based Learning resources constitute an important part of tools employed during the workshops as well as providing a means to enhance skills in areas relevant to the project ideas.

Following the workshops, the National Training Partner performs a comprehensive Training Needs Assessment for individual projects to identify which specific ICT skills and training formats are required in future phases of the project lifecycles.