The 1st edition of the innovative course Partnership
Academy has just ended. It consisted of three training sessions during which
the participants had an opportunity to 
familiarize themselves with the
phenomenon of three sector partnerships through different methods of training:
practical theory, experiential learning, action research, skills development,
reflection and tutoring.
The first training session took place between 21
– 23 April in Mogilany next to Cracow. Its main objective was to present the
first and the second phase of the partnership cycle and to introduce the skills
necessary for partnership building (internal communications, resource mapping,
facilitation, interest-based negotiation). The classes were very intense and
lasted until late evening. Despite the tiredness, the participants left with a
lot of new ideas and motivation for next training.
The second meeting in the frame of the course was a study visit in one of the
Polish partnership groups. Divided into three groups, the participants visited:
- Naszyjnik Północy Partnership Group
- Krzemienny Krąg Partnership Group
- Kraina Łęgów Odrzańskich Partnership Group.
The study visit was an opportunity for the
participants to use the knowledge they gained during the 1st
session and to observe how certain phenomena function in practice. The
participants had prepared the programme of study visits themselves. Each group
chose research issues that they would deepen during study visits.
The last session in the frame of the course took place in the end of June in Mogilany. The participants presented their conclusions from study visits which lead to interesting and lively discussions. In the evening, lively discussions continued thanks to the interesting meeting with representatives of three sectors of public life. The second day the participants learned about communication, evaluation and leadership in partnerships. Then, they prepared the Oxford debate in which they defended or disagreed with the thesis “the partnership cannot exist without the individualities”.
The official closing of the 1st edition of the Partnership Academy will take place in the end of August 2010 when first graduates of the Academy will be receive their diplomas. The 2nd edition of the course starts in October.
