How does the training structure in the Academy work?

The Academy has Partners from across the globe, across different sectors and sizes. With many different organisations come different training structures and levels that organisations themselves have. In order to simplify things, the Academy uses one 3-level Training Structure to capture all the ways in which Partners can be involved in the Academy with their trainings. This structure is explained in more detail at the Master Training and is used to help the Master Trainers think at different levels of training capacity. 

The three Training Levels are:

1. Master Training: this is a six-day training that is given by the Academy's Senior Master Trainers to one or more staff from Partner organisations. They get trained in the use and methodology of the Academy Guides and in providing training-of-trainers (ToT) to other trainers in the use of the Academy Guides and training approach. The Master Training covers:
   • Use of the Smallholder Training Guide, the Group Training Guide, the Programme Design Guide, and the ToT Manual (a manual with specific training activities to conduct a ToT);
   • Active learning method and adult learning method and ample demonstration activities to practice these methods themselves;
   • Guidance on actual training programme design.
2. Training of Trainers (ToT):
   • Master Trainers go on to provide their own Training of Trainers (ToT) to other trainers in their own organisation or network. Partners can approach the Academy to help find a good Master Trainer to provide this ToT. The goal of the ToT is to train trainers:
     • In the use of the Smallholder Training Guide and the Group Training Guide;
     • Through active learning method and adult learning method and ample demonstration activities to practice these methods themselves.
3. Training:
   • Trainers go on to provide training directly to the learners: smallholders, group organisers/managers, or even to programme managers. Training can either be provided by the Academy-trained Master Trainers, or by Trainers that were trained by these Master Trainers. Training will use:
     • the Smallholder Training Guide for smallholders
     • the Group Training Guide for group managers/organisers
     • the Programme Design Guide for programme managers.