National Training Coordinators (NTCs) met face-to-face for their annual meeting in beautiful Alcalá de Henares, Spain, from 13 to 15 November 2023. The meeting was organised by the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU in collaboration with the European Commission DG ECHO.
Meeting for the first time after the start of the recently launched UCPM Training Programme, NTCs discovered its main features and discussed their now strengthened role. The European Commission also informed them about many novelties in relation to the UCPM and various tools and platforms to support knowledge and information sharing. All participants also had an opportunity to exchange and network in the premises of the University of Alcalá, one of Europe’s oldest Universities, where the meeting took place.
In his welcoming speech, Angel Goya, Head of the Sub-directorate for Training and institutional Affairs, Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Emergencies, Spain, presented the Spanish civil protection structure and its respective training system, addressing the multiple planning levels operating in the country and similarities with the UCPM Training Programme.
This third event hosted by the Spanish Presidency has been a particularly important one: for the first time, NTCs have been able to exchange experiences and discuss the challenges met in the implementation of the new Training Programme. The Commission team has succeeded in engaging all participants in this process, which is very much in line with the ES Presidency's goal to promote a stronger involvement of Member States in the work of the UCPM.
The contractors responsible for the implementation of the UCPM Training Programme presented the courses and activities to NTCs, and already identified some lessons since the launch of the new courses in September 2023. DG ECHO staff participated virtually to provide operational updates on UCPM activations coordinated by the ERCC, general policy updates, and to share the latest developments on the rescEU.
The meeting’s at times tight agenda was filled with many points and updates, but it also saw inauguration of the new online module for National Training Coordinators, an eLearning to address key areas that NTCs should know and understand about the Training Programme as well as skills that would help them manage their tasks and role as the main UCPM Training ambassadors in their countries and constituencies. The module will be released by end of 2023 on EU Academy.
The NTC has an important role in facilitating the knowledge transfer process from UCPM to the national level. Participating in such meetings is a very good opportunity to break the barriers of virtual communication, to get to know colleagues and to share with them good practices and build synergies for facing challenges. Also, conducting such periodic meetings is a good way to improve the work process and support the NTC’s role.
NTCs are the point of contact in UCPM Member and Participating States for civil protection and disaster management personnel to identify their training needs and access the right training opportunities. As part of this, they select and nominate the participants to be trained through the UCPM Training Programme.
The next NTC annual meeting will take place in 2024 in Hungary.
