Training Report May 2007 - Ileana Clapham, EuRA Training Liaison

Over the past year, we have worked hard to provide a relevant and insightful training programme, both at a European level through our conferences and Member’s Days, but also locally through our regional training programme.  Our Lisbon conference training was among the best received programmes we have delivered at conference level.  Our morning Level Two session, “Doing Business in the Global Marketplace” was presented by Sheida Hodge who received a 92% rating of excellent or good.  Our afternoon Level Two session, “The Art of Networking” was presented by Steve Hallet who received a 98% rating of excellent or good. 

We also had a full Level One programme, “The Fundamentals of Relocation”, which was also very positively received. 

For a more in depth summary of the training evaluations, click here. 

Each year, at our international conference, we listen to the views of the delegates and try to improve our service to them.  One change that delegates would like to see is smaller groups for the training programme at Level two, and at next year’s conference in Rome, we will split down our groups to a maximum of 50 people, offering the sessions twice, so delegates will be able to attend both, in groups that will facilitate closer working. 

The regional programme for the coming 12 months will focus on Germany, Benelux and Scandinavia.  We are currently working with our local members to finalise dates and programmes and they will be publicised to the members through the EuRA Bulletin. 

We are pleased to congratulate the first eight Level Three graduates, who have been awarded their qualifications at the AGM which took place in Lisbon.  They are: 
Sabine Baerlocher - Active Relocation Switzerland
Susanna Bourne - Relocations Espana
Elaine Hery - Executive Relocation Spain
Mary-Anne Hodru - Brussels Relocation
Kerstin Groenlund - irema
Annamette Krogh - All Denmark Relocation
Emmanual Payot - Active Relocation Switzerland
Dominic Tidey - EARP & EuRA 

Each successful candidate submitted a case study of no more than 2500 words on various topics including; 
Working with an intercultural board
Relocating with children - the special issues
The effects of global mobility on children
Adjustment to the German culture
Cultural Understanding: Adjustment of the Assignee in a Crossborder country and role of the Relocation Consultant
The Impact of the Spanish Rental Market on the Expatriate
The Culture of Switzerland
Third Culture Kids 

It is interesting to note the emphasis in the case studies on cultural themes, which are more and more becoming a core part of successful service delivery within assignment management. On the EARP website, there is a case study outline, with suggested themes for the work.  If you would like advice or guidance on what your case study should cover when you reach 450 points, please don’t hesitate to contact myself or Dominic Tidey at the EARP and EuRA office.  We are so grateful to the KHL University in Leuven for their continued support of the Level Three programme.  KHL independently grades the case studies for our graduates and have done a great job.  There is a very reasonable €100 fee for the grading of the case study. 

One more thing we have introduced is the “Learning from each Other” sessions.  These interactive, free sessions are designed to help us to publish a Best Practice guide to the delivery of relocation services, and we will use this guide as a benchmark in any future Destination Service Provider Accreditation Programmes.  More news on that in the next edition of the EuRApean!