Existence of training plans adapted to government priorities

There is an institution responsible for central co-ordination of the public service training

The existence of institutional responsibility for central co-ordination of public service continuous training is considered achieved when the two elements are fulfilled (both must be met to award points): 1) An institution exists that is responsible for the central co-ordination of public service training or, if several such institutions exist, at least one is informed of all the trainings organised by other institutions. 2) Data on centrally organised or co-ordinated training courses is centrally collected and, at a minimum, the following data should be available: the number of training courses planned and implemented, the topics, and the number of participants. The criterion refers to the public service in the central government administration. The analysis involves the review of legal provisions regarding the organisation of training in the public service within this scope, and reports or data on centrally co-ordinated training activities.

Training needs analyses (TNA) for the public service exist and are updated

In public service systems with centrally co-ordinated training, review of the most recent training needs analysis (TNA) available for the public service in the central government administration. The TNA may cover one year or several years. In either case, it is considered that the TNA is updated if it encompasses the analysis of training needs for the last full calendar year. In decentralised systems, the assessment is conducted in the following group of central government bodies: ministry responsible for finance, ministry responsible for internal affairs (of interior), ministry responsible for education, tax agency/administration, employment agency. If any of the indicated agencies do not exist, the largest agency subordinated to the government, or prime minister, or any minister is analysed instead (for the purpose of the assessment, police is not considered a government agency; agencies in charge of providing education and health care are excluded).

TNA for the public service encompass strategic and operational training needs

In public service systems with centrally co-ordinated training, review of the most recent technical needs analysis (TNA) available for the public service in the central government administration as described in criterion 2. The review must verify whether the TNA includes the identification of strategic and operational training needs. For the assessment, strategic training needs are those stemming from government priorities included in strategic national development plans, public administration reform strategies, sector-specific strategies or policies. The TNA must refer to strategic priorities included in these documents as the basis for strategic training needs. Operational training needs are related to the day-to-day functioning of public administration bodies (e.g., legal drafting, managing administrative procedures, using corporate IT systems, etc.). The criterion refers to the central government administration only. In decentralised systems, the assessment is conducted in the group of central government bodies: ministry responsible for finance, ministry responsible for internal affairs (of interior), ministry responsible for education, tax agency/administration, employment agency. If any of the indicated agencies do not exist, the largest agency subordinated to the government, or prime minister, or any minister is analysed instead (for the purpose of the assessment, police is not considered a government agency; agencies in charge of providing education and health care are excluded). In decentralised systems, the criterion must be fulfilled in all the institutions in the sample to score the points.

Public service training plans are based on a TNA

In public service systems with centrally co-ordinated training, review of the public service centrally co-ordinated training plan in force in the central government administration in the last full calendar year and the training needs analysis (TNA) encompassing the same period. The aim is to determine whether the content of the training plan corresponds to the training needs identified in the TNA. The training plan should at least include training activities related to training needs identified as priorities in the TNA. In decentralised systems, the assessment is conducted in the following group of central government bodies: ministry responsible for finance, ministry responsible for internal affairs (of interior), ministry responsible for education, tax agency/administration, employment agency. If any of the indicated agencies do not exist, the largest agency subordinated to the government, or prime minister, or any minister is analysed instead (for the purpose of the assessment, police is not considered a government agency; agencies in charge of providing education and health care are excluded). In decentralised systems, the criterion must be fulfilled in all the institutions in the sample to score the points.

Public service training plans include different training modalities

In public service systems with centrally co-ordinated training, review of the public service training plan in force in the central government administration in the last full calendar year to determine whether it includes different training modalities. Training modalities may encompass, for example, on-site instructor-led training, online training, webinars, or train-the-trainer sessions. The training plan must encompass at least two different training modalities to score points. In decentralised systems, the assessment is conducted in the following group of central government bodies: ministry responsible for finance, ministry responsible for internal affairs (of interior), ministry responsible for education, tax agency/administration, employment agency. If any of the indicated agencies do not exist, the largest agency subordinated to the government, or prime minister, or any minister is analysed instead (for the purpose of the assessment, police is not considered a government agency; agencies in charge of providing education and health care are excluded). In decentralised systems, the criterion must be fulfilled in all the institutions in the sample to score the points.

E-learning platforms allowing public servants to access training resources are in place

On-site review of an e-learning platform available to public servants in the central government administration. The e-learning platform must be operational and accessible to public servants. Specific e-learning platforms available in individual institutions are not considered for the analysis. The analysis must verify that, at a minimum, the e-learning platform includes a list of online training courses in which public servants can enrol, and public servants can take part in the courses through the platform.

Virtual or physical spaces for the interaction of public servants oriented towards learning are in place

The analysis verifies whether virtual or physical spaces such as thematic forums or networks, or communities of practice (virtual or physical) exist for public servants in the central government administration (e.g., on policy development and co-ordination, service delivery, public procurement or other areas), aimed at the exchange of good practices and mutual learning. There must be at least one such thematic forum, network or community of practice, and there must be evidence of activities organised in the last full calendar year to score points. Formal committees for inter or intra-institutional co-ordination are not considered. If there is a network of HR practitioners, it is not considered for the assessment given that it is analysed in Indicator 8. In decentralised systems, the criterion must be fulfilled in half or more of the public bodies in the sample to score points.