31/01/2011
Sabancı University Executive Development Unit (EDU) holds a training program titled “Executives and Projects” as part of the Sabancı Foundation Executive Capacity Development Program. The project aims to introduce the philosophy of business development and project management to school administrators, expand their understanding of stakeholders, involve parents and teachers in their efforts, and transform their school to a brand in the district, region or province. Among the objectives of the project are ensuring the ownership of the school by the parents, preventing gender discrimination, transforming the institution, district and the province into brands, creating awareness in the society, establishing and sustaining community ties, using information technologies and making development plans that will realize the targets in strategic plans.
Programs were designed based on the needs determined in association with the Education Directorates of the respective cities and structured to cater to the needs of adult learners. Sessions are held in a workshop format to convey knowledge and share experiences.
The program is taking place between September 2010 and May 2011, and the majority of participants are the principals and assistant principals of schools within the Purple Certificate program. Trainings are held in 6 provinces, namely Van, Trabzon, Kars, Şanlıurfa, Izmir and Nevşehir, and 150 participants have attended training to date. The program is designed in stages of a two-day interactive seminar and a 120-day project, and the concepts of leader, administrator and manager are supported with case studies.
The program is based on management theories and learning by doing. Participants are encouraged to share their experiences and subjects are supported with group work and presentations. Participants understand their preferences and management styles by taking a number of tests.
“Building a project for a real initiative” is handled in 3 stages and aims to help participants view their institutions from a different perspective, develop their management styles, and understand different ways for adding value to and improving the success rate of their institutions. At the first stage, participants set up their project teams, prepare project plans and submit them to EDU training associates within one month of the interactive seminar. EDU and Purple Certificate associates examine each project and give feedback on development opportunities to its owners. At the second stage, following an agreement reached via email and phone communication, participants begin to shape and realize their projects. One-on-one or group support is given to include Purple Certificate themes in projects. Progress is reported to EDU associates by way of forms designed by EDU every two weeks, and at the end of the 120-day period, a report outlining the final status of the project is prepared. At the last phase of the program, all projects are assessed by a group of trainers and consultants, and presented.