‘Train the Trainer’ in Rural Entrepreneurship Launched

The ‘Train the Trainer’ module in rural entrepreneurship was launched in Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT), Ireland on the 27th May 2010. This initiative is led by Cavan-Monaghan LEADER (CML) and was developed by team of partners from third level institutions and rural development organisations from across Europe. This project is supported by the Leonardo da Vinci Partnership programme and includes partners from Bulgaria, Germany, Netherlands, Romania and AIT in Ireland.

This aim of this partnership project is to develop and gain accreditation for a ‘train the trainer’ programme on rural entrepreneurship/tourism in up to four of the partner countries. This accredited ‘train the trainer’ rural entrepreneurship module will provide a vocational education training which will embody the competences of rural entrepreneurship and establishes clear guidelines on the competences of an effective rural entrepreneur trainer.
Included in the picture above are the Irish Partners of the Leonardo Partnership Project; L to R: Mr. Kieran Doyle - AIT, Mr. John Toland - CML, Ms. Mary Mullen - CML, Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin - AIT, Ms. Marianne McEneaney - CML, Mr. John O'Hara - AIT and Mr. Kevin McLoughlin - AIT.

At an international gathering of the Rural Tourism International Training Network the module was launched by the President of AIT, Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin who commended the partners on their work. Mary Mullen, Chairperson of Cavan-Monaghan LEADER who spoke at the launch acknowledged the support provided through the Irish National Leonardo Office in Léargas. Mary Mullen went on to say that ‘the development of this training will provide additional opportunities for successful rural entrepreneurs to become trainers’ and wished the partners further success with the project.

This was a milestone for the partners in gaining accreditation through the Irish Accreditation process in AIT, which are now in a position to offer a level 6 single subject module Train the Trainer in Rural Entrepreneurship. CML will continue to communicate with AIT to identify ways in which this course can be rolled out nationally. If you want to know more about this training opportunity, please contact John Toland. Further information about this Leonardo Partnership Project is available from the project blog site.