A collage photo from the STED ToT that captures the attendees' enthusiasm. @Humayun Kabir Khan, National Communications Officer, ILO
Introduction
A one-day training event titled "Training of Trainers on Skills for Trade and Economic Diversification (STED) Foresight Workshop Facilitation to the facilitators" was held at the Long Beach Hotel on 30 October 2023. The purpose of this training was to enhance the capacity of project partners' representatives by equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to facilitate STED workshops effectively. A total of 17 participants representing seven different organizations attended this training.
The purpose of this training was to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to understand and engage regional and sectoral stakeholders in the analysis, anticipation, and planning of skills through practical, hands-on methods, with a focus on ensuring the sustainability of the approach. The training encompassed a range of topics, including the STED methodology and how to effectively facilitate STED workshops in the context of Bangladesh. The training methodology was characterized by its interactivity, with trainers actively working to not only disseminate knowledge but also to ensure that participants accurately grasped and comprehended the material. To achieve this, trainers fostered discussions and group activities among participants and maintained an open forum for feedback, questions, and suggestions throughout the training.
Objectives
The key objectives of this Training of Trainers were as follows:
To empower regional and sectoral stakeholders with the ability to analyze, anticipate, and plan for skills in a practical, hands-on manner, ensuring the sustainability of the STED approach.
To deepen participants' understanding of the STED concept through engaging training sessions and discussions.
To prepare participants for their roles in the upcoming STED Technical and Policy Foresight workshops in four targeted sectors in Cox's Bazar and Chittagong, Bangladesh.
Participants' profile
The 17 participants in this training represented a diverse group, comprising staff members from implementing partner organizations and local government representatives. These participants hailed from seven partner organizations, namely BRAC, CCCI, DYD-CXB, DM WATCH, Inspira, and ILO.
Resource person
The training sessions were conducted by Mrs. Bolormaa Tumurchudur-Klok, a Skills Specialist from ILO Headquarters in Geneva.
Training sessions
Throughout the training, participants engaged in interactive sessions designed to provide them with a comprehensive understanding of STED methodology and effective workshop facilitation. The key topics covered during the training included:
Sector profiles and trends, complemented by SWOT analysis.
Development of a shared vision for future growth in each sector.
Identification of key business capability gaps.
Understanding and investigating the skills implications of these gaps, with a focus on priority existing and emerging occupations.
Identification of high-priority systemic constraints within the skills systems.
Development of priority recommendations to address the identified skills needs and challenges.
To ensure that participants absorbed and understood the material, the trainers facilitated discussions and group activities, maintained an open forum for questions, feedback, and suggestions.
Upon completing the training, the facilitators were divided into two teams, each specializing in specific sectors. These teams successfully led the STED workshops in the Tourism and Construction sectors.
Closing remarks
Ms. Ruchika Bahl, Head of ILO Sub-office, delivered the closing remarks for the training. She commended the participants for their active involvement throughout the training and expressed gratitude for their dedication. She also congratulated them on successfully completing the Training of Trainers and expressed hope that the knowledge gained would prove invaluable in facilitating the upcoming STED sessions.
