Case studies
Here are some examples of recent completed, and in some cases ongoing tailored training projects:
Ministry of Education - Botswana
The Ministry of Education, Botswana, is currently undertaking a fundamental Organisation and Methods (O & M) Review across the entire Botswana education system, focusing on decentralising its core management functions to the regions. RIPA International was asked, as sole source learning solutions provider, to support a cross-departmental Review Team of eight staff in assessing and developing policies and procedures in support of the decentralisation initiative.
A first-stage international study tour to assess and appraise the English and Welsh education and vocational training systems was facilitated by RIPA International in January 2006. The Team were supported throughout the Tour by RIPA International Directors of Studies with expertise and experience at a senior level in both policy formulation and education system operations at the Cabinet Office and the Department for Education and Skills. Key guest speakers, included Sir Michael Bichard (famous as the Chair of the UK’s Bichard Enquiry into child protection) and former Chief Inspector of Schools and acknowledged international education expert, Sir Mike Tomlinson were invited to assist the team in their assessment task.
Stage two of the learning solutions project will be continuing consultative support in Botswana by RIPA International’s consultants to assist the review team in revising and developing their policy initiative recommendations in preparation for submission to the Permanent Secretaries at State House and the Ministry of Education.
The report of the O & M Review team will ultimately be presented to the Botswana National Assembly in order for legislation to be passed to introduce necessary statutory instruments to effect the recommended changes to the education system. Read More
Inland Revenue - Jamaica
In response to a request by the Inland Revenue, Jamaica, RIPA International designed and delivered a two week tailored programme on Human Resource Management and Project Management.
Tailored for Line Managers and supervisors from the Inland Revenue, Tax Audit & Administration Department, Tax administration Services Department, and National Motor Vehicle Registry. The first week covered Human Resource Management and included comparisons of worldwide HR trends, performance management, HR Line responsibilities and recruitment and selection procedures and concluded with evaluations and action plans. The second week was an overview of project management frameworks and alignment with their organisational aims and culture, it included analysis of relevant case studies and a visit to the Ministry of Education’s Project Management Department.
By the end of the course the delegates had developed more robust supervisory skills to improve teamwork and attitude, learnt how to set up effective staff appraisal systems and had produced project management frameworks for analysis of current and future projects. The department was left with a framework for change and a structure to raise performance levels in the organisation. Read More
Government of Barbados
At the request of Training Administration Division (TAD) of the Barbados Government, RIPA International developed a series of five two-week courses in ‘Building an Effective Records Management’. Participants on the programme came from a wide range of backgrounds including prison guards, postal workers, police officers, customs agents and administrative staff. This highly successful programme was delivered over 2.5 months and attended by over 100 members from different ministries and agencies of the Barbadian public service. Read More
India National Government
RIPA International designed a bespoke training solution for the National Government’s Department of Personnel and Training. Delivered to 26 participants with the responsibility for training within their individual State Administrative Institutes, the aim of this programme was to demonstrate the importance of the role of training in terms of managing a successful training operation and making training relevant to their individual client organisation’s objectives (usually local public service agencies), thereby improving their performance.
Ministry of Works - Malaysia
Developed in liaison with the Ministry of Works, RIPA International designed and delivered a bespoke solution based on the Open Training programme ‘Contracting and Contract Management’. The objective in the development of this solution for the Ministry was to support the improvement of performance through effective outsourcing in today’s changing commercial world.
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
One of RIPA International's most recent tailored projects has been our work with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). In support of our client's needs, and following a request from the NNPC, we successfully developed and delivered a bespoke training solution in Financial Management Practices.
Delivered to 18 delegates and run as a 3 con-current 4 week sessions, the programme was focussed around the key concepts of achieving value for money and financial control by means of a sound strategic approach and the use of best practice techniques of financial management. The programme drew on both UK experience and that of delegates' own country and industry, and comprised a mixture of learning modes - presentations, discussions, course work, delegate action plans and external study tours. These tours gave participants the opportunity to examine the application of reforms and techniques introduced in the UK and elsewhere to the particular circumstances of their own organisations. Read More
Federal Ministry of Science and Technology - Nigeria
Following a request from the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, RIPA International devised a bespoke study programme in Technology Transfer in the UK.
The objective set by the delegation prior to their arrival was as follows:
"Our expectation from this study visit to the United Kingdom is that on return each participant would be fully conversant with the workings of Technology Transfer Offices in their institutions, especially with internal relationships with their colleagues and institutions' management in order to ensure maximum cooperation as well as being able to market their IPs, negotiate better terms of royalties and attract industry collaboration in their innovation generating activities and more importantly ensure that the objectives of the establishment of IPTTOs are implemented."
The study programme was developed with the purpose of exposing the delegation to the implementation and operation of Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) in the UK, especially the higher education sector. The study sought to provide delegates with the experience of a broad range of UK universities and other institutions in the establishment, operation and funding of TTOs, with the express purpose of applying knowledge from the programme to the planned development of TTOs in Nigeria. Read More
The Judiciary of the Supreme Court - Barbados
Justice systems around the world are experiencing unprecedented pressures to become more efficient and responsive to the needs of the societies they serve. Following a request from the judiciary of the Supreme Court Barbados, RIPA International developed and delivered a 5 day in-country tailored programme in Case Management. Held at the prestigious Sherbourne Centre in Bridgetown Barbados, the programme was attended by 23 members of staff and seven judges of the Supreme Court including the Chief Justice, Sir David Simmons. The requirement for the bespoke training programme arose in anticipation of the introduction of new rules to the civil jurisdiction in Barbados. These rules are based on case management principles similar to those introduced in the United States in the early nineties and in England and Wales in the late nineties.
The course delivery in line with RIPA International's learning ethos was interactive in nature with delegates contributing to discussions on key principles underpinning case management and developing ways in which these principles can be directly applied in the Barbadian context.
As a result of this bespoke training solution, staff of the Barbados Supreme Court were empowered with the skills, tools and techniques of case management and were equipped to plan and implement change and measure the impact of change on the efficiency of processing the courts caseload.