Training
An on-line course for rural development practitioners across western Canada
Western Canada’s communities are facing major economic challenges. In light of this, rural development practitioners need tools and strategies to assist their communities in the move to a long-term sustainable future.
Rural diversification is about broadening an economic base with a variety of business types and jobs, while creating a balanced and stable economy. For this reason, students will learn strategies to build upon a community’s comparative advantages and define diversification opportunities. Students will develop a rural diversification project throughout the course.
This practical 15 week, interactive on-line course includes:
- Real western Canada case studies of rural diversification
- Case studies of rural diversification projects from around the world, some that were successful and others that were not.
- Strategies to identify rural diversification opportunities.
- Rural economies and how they function.
- Working with entrepreneurs to create a diversified economy.
- Strategies for working with communities in a time of change.
- Planning and partnering for rural diversification.
- Developing rural diversification projects and writing proposals for project funding.
As a western Canada rural development practitioner, you will find this course engaging and relevant to your daily work. The course is facilitated by the Community Futures Alberta Rural Diversification Initiative Project Officers. It is interactive, with computer quizzes and games, video conference learning events, discussion forums, face-to- face interviews and culminates in a rural diversification project work plan for your communities. Throughout the course, students are encouraged to interact and learn from each other.
An added benefit of the course, is the alignment with the Pan West Community Futures competencies of project management, proposal writing and community economic development.
This on-line course includes eight modules as outlined below:
Module Title | Module Description |
|---|---|
Rural Diversification Overview |
Covers the process of rural diversification and role of rural development practitioners in the diversification process. |
Rural Economies and Diversification |
Delves into the history of rural economies and the theories of economic development as they relate to rural diversification. |
Entrepreneurship and Rural Diversification |
Explores the role of entrepreneurs in the process of rural diversification and ways of supporting entrepreneurs as they drive diversification. |
Talking to Communities and Change Management |
Contains the strategies for engaging in diversification dialogue with community leaders and ways to support the changes taking place in western Canada’s rural communities.
|
Planning and Readiness for Rural Diversification |
Covers the steps in preparing communities for diversification and the process of planning a rural diversification project. |
Partnership Development |
Delves into the engagement, development and on going relationships with suitable partnership through the development and implementation of a rural diversification project. |
Project Management |
Defines project management tools and strategies suitable for a rural diversification project. |
Proposal Writing |
Contains detailed information to support the development of a project work plan and proposal for funding a rural diversification project. |
Course Dates: September 8, 2010 to December 22, 2010 (15 weeks)
Course Tuition: Community Futures staff and board members - $ 600.00, includes resource book.
Economic development professionals and other interested community members - $750.00, includes resource book.
Registration process: Contact Judy McMillan-Evans, Community Futures Network of Alberta (judy@cfna.ca) to register.
Registration deadline: August 31, 2010.
Pre-requisites: A thirst for knowledge.
Note: Just prior to the course start date, you will receive log-in and password information to access the course on-line.
