Context
The Albanian School of Public Administration (ASPA) is a central public institution with administrative and academic autonomy, and carries the mission of training the civil servants of the central government, local government and independent institutions. Due to the COVID pandemic and a 6.4-magnitude earthquake on 26 November 2019, the training service delivery had to be transformed from a traditional format into an online modality, which constitutes an innovative approach for our public administration. In previous years (before 2019), ASPA had only offered in-class training. Comparing the number of participants and training held before transforming our services and after, there has been a noticeable difference in the number of participants.
Objectives
The project aimed to accommodate more participants and offer a wider range of training topics, leading to a more comprehensive training programme.
Implementation
The shift to a fully online modality brought about financial savings, and improved accessibility and enhanced learning experiences. The increased engagement was further amplified by strategic marketing efforts, especially through online promotional channels. Moreover, the remote training format significantly benefited employees from distant municipalities, overcoming geographical barriers and reducing travel costs. From 2020 onwards, the school has experienced an increase in its training budget, amounting to a 12 per cent growth. The participants’ assessments through online questionnaires indicated high satisfaction levels regarding training effectiveness, interactivity and organisational aspects, showcasing the success of the training programme’s objectives. In terms of management style, the adaptation consisted of becoming acquainted with new technologies that are being used for remote work. However, the management system that has been built since 2019 has a strong evidence-based component that has helped to continue the management process smoothly, even in the virtual environment.