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Course Descriptions

Course Descriptions - IAP2 Canada's Learning Pathway

Embark on an enriching journey of growth and knowledge through IAP2 Canada's learning pathway, featuring our core courses plus a diverse selection of additional training to ignite your passion and elevate your public participation (P2) and engagement expertise.

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Explore Our Courses

Designed to ignite your curiosity and inspire your growth, our expert-led content will inspire to delve deeper into the realms of public participation and engagement.

Please note: Most courses on IAP2 Canada's learning pathway require specific prerequisites for participants. Aspiring learners must fulfill these requirements to access the courses and the Certificate in Public Participation (P2) offered by IAP2 Canada. These prerequisites serve as a foundation for individuals seeking to enhance their understanding and skills in public participation and engagement practices. Requiring participants to take a prerequisite ensures that there is a common understanding of the key IAP2 framework and principles.

Introductory (Level 1) Learners

Facilitation Fundamentals for Public Engagement

Facilitating meetings, conversations and group sessions is a skill that is widely used and needed in today's work environment. For public participation professionals, strong and well thought out facilitation is the backbone of helping our clients and their audiences move through difficult and murky conversations to clarity and results in public participation. Learn how to plan and design both virtual and in person events that will get results. Learn how to set yourself up for success as you dive into the work of facilitating.

Prerequisites:

None

Fundamentals of P2 and Engagement (Core Training)

Fundamentals of Public Participation (P2) and Engagement is a Level 1 course that focuses on understanding and applying the practices of meaningful and effective public participation. The training explores principles, concepts and best practices, and how to design and apply this knowledge to your public participation and engagement work.

Prerequisites:

None

Recommended for:

New practitioners beginning their journey in P2/engagement
Anyone working in the field or a related field who wants to understand and apply the fundamentals of meaningful and effective public participation and engagement practice

Indigenous Awareness for Engagement Professionals

This course gives public and community engagement professionals a fundamental level of understanding about the history and experiences of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Participants will learn about the shared story of Indigenous and all Canadians and reflect on how that shared past affects our unique and shared experiences today, with a specific focus on decision-making structures and processes. Co-delivered by Indigenous and Settler trainers whose experiences as engagement professionals bring the content to life, this impactful course builds fundamental understanding through a lens of meaningful engagement and reconciliation.

Prerequisites:

None

Understanding Conflict in P2 and Engagement

The aim of this course is to help you understand, and more effectively manage, conflict dynamics.

Prerequisite(s):

Fundamentals of P2 and Engagement (for Level 1 practitioners)

or

IAP2 Way in Challenging Contexts (for Level 2 practitioners)

or

Planning for Effective P2 from IAP2 Canada’s previous Foundations Program (plus a transition video is required)
Recommended for:
People facing conflict in their engagement practice.

Understanding People and Communities

Learn about and apply deep understanding and insights into the people and communities involved in P2/engagement processes, in order to make the processes more meaningful and effective. This course provides an introduction to working with diversity, equity and inclusion in P2/engagement.

Prerequisite(s):

Fundamentals of P2 and Engagement (for Level 1 practitioners)

or

IAP2 Way in Challenging Contexts (for Level 2 practitioners)

or

Planning for Effective P2 from IAP2 Canada’s previous Foundations Program (plus a transition video is required)

Recommended for:

Practitioners building their skills to contribute to meaningful P2/engagement processes
Practitioners who want to understand and apply aspects of equity, diversity and inclusion to their P2/engagement programs
Practitioners and allied professionals who are looking to build their skills in understanding who to engage in meaningful P2/engagement

For Intermediate (Level 2) Learners

Applying Methods (Core Training)

The focus of this course is on exploring a variety of methods used in implementing public participation and engagement and considering how to design and integrate those methods into the public participation and engagement practice process. Participants will learn to select, assess and create effective elements of methods to work meaningfully with participants.

Prerequisite(s):

Fundamentals of P2 and Engagement (for Level 1 practitioners)

or

IAP2 Way in Challenging Contexts (for Level 2 practitioners)

or

Planning for Effective P2 from IAP2 Canada’s previous Foundations Program (plus a transition video is required)
Recommended for:
Practitioners with some public participation and engagement practice experience who are looking to cement their knowledge and skills

Designing Public Participation and Engagement (Core Training)

Designing & Leading Engagement is a Level 2 course that introduces practitioners to the design and plan phases of the practice framework, providing them with the opportunity to develop public participation and engagement practice plans. This includes scoping, community mapping, determining purpose and objectives and levels of influence, choosing appropriate methods and managing resources, while considering the needs of diverse audiences.

Prerequisite(s):

Fundamentals of P2 and Engagement (for Level 1 practitioners)

or

IAP2 Way in Challenging Contexts (for Level 2 practitioners)

or

Planning for Effective P2 from IAP2 Canada’s previous Foundations Program (plus a transition video is required)

Recommended for:

Practitioners who are leading the planning and implementation of public participation and engagement practice processes
Participants who will be involved in the design and planning of public participation and engagement practice processes

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in P2/Engagement

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in P2/engagement is a Level 2 course which will enhance practitioners’ understanding of key DEI concepts and their relevance to P2/engagement.

The course will help participants identify power imbalances and other barriers to inclusive and equitable engagement. Participants will have the opportunity to develop an Equity Lens for P2/engagement which they can apply to the planning, design and implementation of P2/engagement processes.

Prerequisite(s):

Fundamentals of P2 and Engagement (for Level 1 practitioners)

or

IAP2 Way in Challenging Contexts (for Level 2 practitioners)

or

Planning for Effective P2 from IAP2 Canada’s previous Foundations Program (plus a transition video is required)

Recommended for:

Participants working in P2/engagement who already have some basic experience and/or understanding of DEI and are:

leading the planning and implementation of P2/engagement processes.

managing teams and planning operations where there is some risk and complexity.

managing key relationships for the P2/engagement processes, be able to troubleshoot, fix problems and implement change in processes as they are needed.

Working as a consultant in the sector leading the P2/engagement processes

Engagement Methods for Indigenous Cultural Contexts

Explore key considerations to apply when selecting engagement methods, including Indigenous governance, language, Ceremony, community structure, interconnectedness, effects of colonization, identity, power dynamics, legal rights, competing interests, and the presence of non-Indigenous (or Settler) participants.

This course assumes participants have a basic awareness of the history and experiences of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

Prerequisite(s):

Indigenous Awareness for Engagement Professionals or equivalent knowledge is a recommended prerequisite.

IAP2 Way in Challenging Contexts (Core Training)

The IAP2 Way in Challenging Contexts is Level 2 course that sets out the underpinning models and frameworks of public participation and engagement practice as defined by the IAP2 community. Specifically in terms of what it is, who is involved, standards of practice, and why it is important to be practiced ethically and effectively. Participants will explore these concepts and models in contexts that are challenging and will gain skills and knowledge to apply to their work. This course is suitable for practitioners who already have substantial experience in public participation and engagement practice work and are ready to be leading this work with others (2-5 years).

Prerequisite(s):

none

Recommended for:

Practitioners who already have some breadth of experience with public participation and engagement practice, and are:

leading the planning and implementation of public participation and engagement practice processes, or

managing teams and planning operations where there is some risk and complexity

managing key relationships for the public participation and engagement practice processes, be able to troubleshoot, fix problems and implement change in processes as they are needed

working as a consultant in the sector leading the public participation and engagement practice processes

Indigenous Inclusion: Putting the TRC Calls into Action

Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) offered a roadmap to improved relationships between Indigenous and all Canadians through the 94 Calls to Action. These actions are directed at Canadian governments, corporations, institutions, and citizens, and describe the important role that decision-makers have to play in charting the course for a renewed country in which all citizens have the opportunity to benefit from the prosperity of this land. Yet many organizations and citizens are not sufficiently equipped to respond and take action in meaningful and culturally inclusive ways. This course offers foundational knowledge, real-life examples, and dynamic problem-solving for individuals working to advance Indigenous inclusion within their professional and personal communities.

Prerequisite(s):

none

Strategies for Addressing Opposition & Outrage In Public Participation

Are your projects failing to move forward because of public opposition? Are your staff regularly faced with an angry public at meetings? Is your organization perceived as untrustworthy or unresponsive? Is decision-making fraught with polarized viewpoints and stalled on how to move ahead? Does it feel like your relationship with the people you serve or interact with is all about us versus them? Is the media covering your every move – in negative, sensational ways?

Then you are in the right place! The course is highly participatory, so come prepared to join in, share experiences and challenges and ask lots of questions!

Prerequisite(s):

none

Advanced (Level 3) Learners

Working with Conflict and High Emotions

The focus of this course is on de-escalating and shifting conflict and high emotion to constructive participation, where forward momentum and resolution is possible. Participants will gain a deep understanding of the state of conflict, and work with practical, tangible approaches to de-escalate and transform challenges. Over the course, we will cover tools, strategies and ways of working to resolve polarized and emotional challenges.

Prerequisite(s):

Fundamentals of P2 and Engagement (for Level 1 practitioners)

or

IAP2 Way in Challenging Contexts (for Level 2 practitioners)

or

Planning for Effective P2 from IAP2 Canada’s previous Foundations Program (plus a transition video is required)
Recommended for:

Intermediate level practitioners who are leading and managing P2/engagement processes with challenges, scope and scale
Intermediate to advanced practitioners looking for tools and strategies to apply to a polarized, charged P2/engagement environment
Practitioners with experience in P2/engagement processes where is conflict and/or high emotion

Course Descriptions