COMETS – Understanding and facilitating individual and group learning processes

In the context of the European Training Strategy (ETS), SALTO T&C RC developed the Competence Model for Trainers Working at International Level - www.salto-youth.net/trainercompetences. The ‘COMETS training courses’ were developed as a support for trainers in their competence development, each course focusing on one competence area of the above-mentioned model. Hence, with this call, Interkulturelles Zentrum, the Austrian National Agency for Erasmus+ Youth in Action together with SALTO T&C RC invite trainers to take part in this fourth edition of COMETS: ‘Understanding and facilitating individual and group learning processes’. This particular competence from the model encompasses the following competences: - Selecting, adapting or creating appropriate methods - Creating a safe, inspiring learning environment - Support learners in identifying and meeting their learning needs and overcoming any barriers - Understanding and facilitating group dynamic in a way that is conducive to different ways of learning - Stimulating active participation, motivating and empowering learners - Effectively managing one’s own emotions in training situations; respecting ethical boundaries visa-a-vis learners Taking the above into account, the intentions of the course are, amongst others: - To reflect upon dimensions such as empathy, respect, and honesty in a learning context and process; - To work on the attitudes of trainers and learners with regards to authenticity, openness, and curiosity; - To reflect on and explore the limits and boundaries of learners; - To explore ways to stimulate, support, and empower learners, individually and as a group COMETS training courses intend principally to offer trainers a space to reflect, exchange and contrast their practice and understanding with regard to a certain ETS competence area. The main purpose is to enable participants to take further steps in their professional practice. In that sense, COMETS is more a ‘learning experience’ than a training course stricto sensu. No matter the focus on each course, COMETS are all based on a series of principles, which are: - Awareness: me – the group – the field – the context; - Readiness to question and to review practice; - Readiness to stretch boundaries; - Being explicit about choices as trainers; - Integrity: Walk the talk! - Giving space to the whole person: body - mind - soul - heart; - Awareness: Being here as learner in a community of learners; - Giving to Caesar what’s Caesars’: acknowledging [re]sources of practice. The team of trainers for this COMETS edition are Nik Paddison and Alexandra Beweis. Following the selection process, the training team will contact participants with specific information and tasks regarding the further development of the programme. This is to ensure that the needs of the participants are taken into account in order to maximise the potential that the course offers. Participant profile: COMETS is a training for trainers format which provides trainers, being advanced in the implementation of international trainings for youth workers, with opportunities to come together to reflect upon, discuss and develop further on different competence areas of the ETS competence model. In the context of COMETS, ‘advanced’ means that the trainer-learner has the capacity to direct his/her own learning and in particular, the ability to self-assess his/her own competences. The general aims of the COMETS training courses are: - To contribute to quality development of youth work and of training practise in the field; - To put the ETS competence model into practice; - To support National Agencies and other youth sector organizations in working with trainers on competence development; - To contribute to the professional development of trainers in the field. Please find attached the guiding principles developed for the COMETS training courses and at www.salto-youth.net/COMETS further information around the series of COMETS. Please find here further material for reading: The ETS competence model for trainers working at international level www.salto-youth.net/trainercompetences In cooperation with some Erasmus+: Youth in Action National Agencies SALTO T&C RC has developed a strategy to provide opportunities for trainers to develop their competences according to their needs and needs of training providers like National Agencies. Please find more information on www.salto-youth.net/trainercompetencedevelopment