ELSA Training

What is ELSA Training?

ELSA Training aims at supporting ELSA Members and Officers in developing valuable soft skills and improving their ELSA knowledge. These training sessions are provided by educated individuals, either from the International Trainers' Pool (ITP) or from a National Trainers' Pool (NTP). Organising an ELSA Training is very simple and quick. 

What topics are covered by ELSA Training?

ELSA Training is divided into two categories:

1. Soft skills training includes topics such as negotiation skills, time-management skills, stress-management skills, communication skills etc. These skills are vital for a successful professional life and help individuals set themselves apart from other applicants on the job market. A full list of topics can be found here.

2. Officers' training includes topics such as planning a transition, writing a One Year Operational Plan (OYOP), external relations, board management etc. These skills are specific to a successful ELSA career but will provide you with transferrable skills. A full list of topics can be found here.

What is the difference between ELSA Training and workshops?

This is a question that comes up regularly. It is important to understand the difference and to ensure that you chose the right forum for what it is you want to achieve with your sessions. Generally speaking, a training session is more interactive and aims at skill development while a workshop is less interactive and aims at providing information or data. While it is possible to make a workshop more interactive by creating working groups / group exercises, they do not provide enough activities to proactively develop a skill. Workshops are also generally shorter due to this as they do not need to provide participants with extra time to learn a new skill and try it out right away.

How do I organise an ELSA Training?

1. Decide on a topic.

2. Set a date which is at least 3 weeks in the future to give your Trainer enough time to prepare the session.

3. Decide whether you want a Trainer from the ITP or your NTP and request a Trainer! If you would like an ITP Trainer, you can find them here.

4. Find a space for the session to take place. You might want to book a room at your university or hold the session online.

5. Open applications for participants (if hosted for ELSA members).

6. Host the training.

7. Evaluate your experience and repeat the process.

How do I promote ELSA Training?

The most effective way of promoting ELSA Training is by organising ELSA Training for your National/Local Officers so that they get a better understanding of the project and to experience the benefits of such sessions themselves. It is thus advisable that National Groups organise sessions for their Local Groups to join during an internal meeting or similar.

What are the quality standards for ELSA Training provided by an ITP Trainer?

In order to ensure good quality of training sessions, the International Council has adapted minimum quality standards for ELSA Training sessions provided by ITP Trainers. They must:

1. last at least 3 hours - this may be decreased in agreement with the respective Trainer.

2. include a maximum of 20 participants.

National Trainers' Pool (NTP)

A National Trainers' Pool (NTP) is a group of former and current ELSA Officers from your own National Group who dedicate their experience and time to helping current ELSA members and Officers improve their skills and ELSA knowledge. 

Most procedures covering general processes at international level should be directly applicable at national level.

How do I establish an NTP?

Please consult the NTP Handbook for more detailed information. However, there are three general steps to take when establishing an NTP in your National Group:

1. Create regulations which include a general framework, quality standards and procedural matters.

2. Organise a training event for interested individuals wanting to become NTP Trainers, possibly with help from an instructor who can be part of the ITP.

3. Maintain your NTP by repeating training events to gain new and to further developing skills of existing NTP trainers in a specific circle (usually every two or three years depending on your need of trainers based on the size of the National Group and amount of Local Groups).