THE EUROPEAN ADMINISTRATIVE SCHOOL

1
THE EUROPEAN ADMINISTRATIVE SCHOOL

• Why it was set up
• Increased importance of training and development
• The administrative reform of the Commission
• Inter-institutional cooperation
• Its added value
• To promote cooperation among the institutions
• To spread common values and exchange best
  practice
• To extend the training offer and guarantee a
   quality label 
• To create synergies in the use of resources

2
TRAINING WHO DOES WHAT IN THE INSTITUTIONS?

• Departmental training units
• Central training units in institutions
• The inter-institutional EAS
• Internal and external delivery

3
The role of the EAS

• Shared responsibilities
• Training of new staff
• Training for managers or potential managers
• Sole responsibility
• Career development procedure (certification)
• Services on demand against payment
• Specific requests from an institution or agencies
• Advice and expertise

4
The Schools new programmes

• For new staff
• A box of skills
• For management
• A structured programme from basic team leader to
  top management

5
Certification

• An entirely new procedure for career development
  resulting from the new staff regulations
• Candidates selected within each institution
• About six weeks course-based training and 10 days
  individual work
• 4 examinations
• Successful candidates can apply for posts as
  administrators

6
The Training Programme

• Candidate numbers for 2006/7
• 151 candidates from all institutions and one EU
  agency
• Aim
• To help candidates acquire the skills they need
  to become successful administrators and to
  prepare them for the examinations

7
The Skills

• Understanding and exploiting information
• Analysing and problem solving
• Negotiation
• Managing meetings

8
The Skills

• Effective writing
• Developing effective groups and teams
• Personal effectiveness
• Getting the best from colleagues
• Verbal communication

9
The examinations

• Assessment by observation group problem-solving
  (E1)
• Preparing a briefing note (E2)
• Making a presentation in public (E3)
• An in-tray exercise (E4)

10

Assessment by observation (E1)

• Individual preparation based on briefing and then
  work in groups of 5-6 candidates
• The aim is to test negotiation and persuasion
  skills, reasoning powers and creativity, and
  interpersonal skills
• Subject matter in 2006/7 European Council
  School budget meeting

11
Preparing a briefing note

• Preparation of a briefing note on the basis of
  information contained in a file supplied to
  candidates
• The aim is to test candidates ability to analyse
  and solve problems, to think strategically and
  see the big picture, and to write effectively
• Texts prepared on PC
• File used in 2006/7 Phoenician Princess Airways
  the problem of the route

12
Make a public presentation (E3)

• 10-12 minutes presentation on a general topic
  communicated to candidates two weeks in advance
• 10-minutes question and answer session with the
  examining board
• The aim is to test ability to find and process
  information, to present a case logically and
  coherently, and to communicate convincingly

13
An inbox exercise (E4)

• Candidates have to cover for a sick colleague,
  deal with their incoming e-mails and write a
  summary of how they have handled them
• The aim is to test ability to organise and
  prioritise, to solve problems, to demonstrate
  customer service skills, and to summarise clearly
  in writing

14
Key Figures
2005/6 2005/6 2006/7 2006/7
Institution N of candidates Successful candidates N of candidates Successful candidates
Parliament 20 12 14 11
Council 5 2 5 3
Commission 116 84 113 63
Court of Justice 5 3 3 2
Court of Auditors 3 3 9 6
Economic and Social Committee 4 3 2 1
Committee of the Regions 3 2 2 1
Others 1 0 3 1
Total 157 109 151 88