Tuesday 26 Feb 2008 @ 15:01
National School of Government
National School of Government
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HOLDING UP MIRROR TO GOVERNMENT
The new National School of Government Portfolio for 2008-9, which carries details of the organisation’s learning and development provision, paints a picture of the diverse and complex challenges facing government and the evolution of a dynamic and increasingly plural response, according to Principal and Chief Executive Robin Ryde.
He explained: “Each year, the National School Portfolio holds up a mirror to the ambitions and preoccupations of government and the evolution of new approaches towards them. As well as the usual provision of training titles for leaders, managers and professionals working in government, this year’s Portfolio highlights the importance of cross-cutting approaches as enshrined in the 30 new Public Service Agreements, and of the need for fresh approaches to learning.”
The Portfolio, which is mailed direct to government HR specialists and managers today, carries details of 400 training programmes and related events, organised under themes that relate directly to Professional Skills for Government and the Civil Service Leadership Framework. All levels of seniority are catered for – from junior management to senior leaders – through courses ranging from half day introductory and refresher courses to full postgraduate degrees offered in partnership with leading universities and business schools. The National School is seeing a growing demand to support organisations involved in public services in the wider public, private and third sectors both in the UK and abroad in addition to central government organisations and agencies.
Whilst the 2008-09 Portfolio contains new titles, it also sees enduring programmes developed and realigned to reflect new realities and government’s thinking about them. The Portfolio also sees a shift in educational philosophy towards action-orientated approaches. New titles – particularly in the area of leadership - see a strong commitment to participant inquiry through methods such as Action Learning. ‘Leading Change’, for example, sees participants in Action Learning Sets bringing together their real live change issues to identify workable approaches to tackling them. The ‘Modern Leaders Programme’ helps senior leaders to develop their awareness of the challenges facing them in 21st century organisations such as effective partnership and stakeholder leadership, innovation and performance measurement, and encourages collaborative working and the development of a learning community. And ‘Leadership Across Borders’, brings together participants from the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to develop a network of leaders who can share approaches to global issues such as terrorism and migration, and so steer the international conversation.
Ryde concludes: “The age of prescriptive education is behind us - the modern world is complex and contested, and the challenge to us as educationalists is to encourage those we work with to develop solutions rooted in their own environments and experience, whilst drawing on the best theoretical and professional expertise. “
Notes for editors
1. As the Government’s centre of excellence for learning and development, the National School of Government became a separate government department in January 2007. It strives to ensure the highest professional and academic standards in public service organisational and people development. Visit www.nationalschool.gov.uk for more information.
For media enquiries, please contact Rob Reynolds, National School of Government; email: rob.reynolds@nationalschool.gsi.gov.uk; tel 01344 634145; m 07881 518719, or Chris Blunkell, Media Associate; email: chris.blunkell@btinternet.com; tel: 01227 772747; m 07941 831341.
He explained: “Each year, the National School Portfolio holds up a mirror to the ambitions and preoccupations of government and the evolution of new approaches towards them. As well as the usual provision of training titles for leaders, managers and professionals working in government, this year’s Portfolio highlights the importance of cross-cutting approaches as enshrined in the 30 new Public Service Agreements, and of the need for fresh approaches to learning.”
The Portfolio, which is mailed direct to government HR specialists and managers today, carries details of 400 training programmes and related events, organised under themes that relate directly to Professional Skills for Government and the Civil Service Leadership Framework. All levels of seniority are catered for – from junior management to senior leaders – through courses ranging from half day introductory and refresher courses to full postgraduate degrees offered in partnership with leading universities and business schools. The National School is seeing a growing demand to support organisations involved in public services in the wider public, private and third sectors both in the UK and abroad in addition to central government organisations and agencies.
Whilst the 2008-09 Portfolio contains new titles, it also sees enduring programmes developed and realigned to reflect new realities and government’s thinking about them. The Portfolio also sees a shift in educational philosophy towards action-orientated approaches. New titles – particularly in the area of leadership - see a strong commitment to participant inquiry through methods such as Action Learning. ‘Leading Change’, for example, sees participants in Action Learning Sets bringing together their real live change issues to identify workable approaches to tackling them. The ‘Modern Leaders Programme’ helps senior leaders to develop their awareness of the challenges facing them in 21st century organisations such as effective partnership and stakeholder leadership, innovation and performance measurement, and encourages collaborative working and the development of a learning community. And ‘Leadership Across Borders’, brings together participants from the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to develop a network of leaders who can share approaches to global issues such as terrorism and migration, and so steer the international conversation.
Ryde concludes: “The age of prescriptive education is behind us - the modern world is complex and contested, and the challenge to us as educationalists is to encourage those we work with to develop solutions rooted in their own environments and experience, whilst drawing on the best theoretical and professional expertise. “
Notes for editors
1. As the Government’s centre of excellence for learning and development, the National School of Government became a separate government department in January 2007. It strives to ensure the highest professional and academic standards in public service organisational and people development. Visit www.nationalschool.gov.uk for more information.
For media enquiries, please contact Rob Reynolds, National School of Government; email: rob.reynolds@nationalschool.gsi.gov.uk; tel 01344 634145; m 07881 518719, or Chris Blunkell, Media Associate; email: chris.blunkell@btinternet.com; tel: 01227 772747; m 07941 831341.
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