Leading in a Bilingual Nation - leadership development course

Descriptions

Academi Wales was set up by the Welsh Government to develop the potential of those who work for the Welsh public service through appropriate learning and development using a range of learning interventions designed to develop people, organisations and systems. Academi Wales aims to improve the skills, knowledge and understanding of leaders, ultimately helping to deliver improved services for the citizens of Wales.Each year Academi Wales designs, commissions and delivers a significant number of learning and development initiatives comprising a blend of short programmes, organisational change interventions, a number of iconic events, a suite of high quality publications and e-enabled development which are all focussed on building the knowledge, skills and behaviours of managers and leaders.As part of the development of a new model of public service leadership for Wales, Academi Wales wants to ensure that leadership within and for a bilingual country is a core element of that new model.Only a limited number of languages will survive over the coming centuries and those that remain will be the ones that have a high status, are used in every aspect of a nation’s life and have that use planned.Wales has some of the most developed and ambitious policies and strategies for promoting practical bilingualism available anywhere in the world.However to date little attention has been placed on ensuring appropriate development for senior leaders on how to operate in a bilingual situation, with a language not the language of government.In designing courses for senior leaders in Wales attention should be given to ‘critical language awareness’ so that they have the opportunity of learning about the country’s linguistic situation and the chance of confronting their own ideas and prejudices about bilingualism in Wales.If senior leaders understand and embrace the values discussed during the development, this will have a considerable effect on the corporate values developed with regard to delivery of services. Without this, important messages about the value of bilingualism will be lost.RequirementAcademi Wales would look to seek proposals to design and deliver, in Welsh and English:(a) A short, intensive, one day face to face foundation programme – Effective Intercultural CommunicationThe delivery of the foundation programme would be beneficial for senior leaders to attend when they take up appointments, so that they show leadership and dedication in bilingualism to other staff in their organisation.(b). A longer modular programme - Development in Critical Language AwarenessProviding courses for senior leaders will help in a very practical way towards moving Wales and the Welsh public service towards the goal of creating a bilingual Wales which places the bilingual citizen at the centre of the bilingual service provided.Both programmes must be based on the latest research and contain practical up to date knowledge of Government in Wales strategies and goals, and the future challenges facing leaders in the public sector in Wales.The requirement would relate to the design and delivery of the programmes , to be piloted in the first instance. Commissioning of further programmes will be subject to an evaluation of the pilot.Programmes will be delivered at locations across Wales.NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=83151.