Training Industry Magazine - Summer 2024 - 59

management techniques, which
involve flexible
planning and
the
ability to quickly pivot strategies as
situations evolve. " This approach has
been instrumental in ensuring that our
training programs are resilient, " says
Fugate, " and responsive to changes,
enabling us to deliver quality education
no matter the circumstances. "
Fugate's team has also been embracing
new advancements in learning tech to
enhance their training. The integration
of generative artificial intelligence (AI)
into their programs is a prime example:
" By incorporating AI tools, " she says,
" we've enriched our entry-level project
management course, equipping our
learners with cutting-edge skills to utilize
AI for efficient project management. "
This ensures that their curriculum
stays
Fugate's team does a training
assessment each Spring. " Sometimes
these are off-the-shelf, " she says,
" but many are internally developed
and customized just for the group
requesting
it. " Their courses
are
also tweaked for specific overseas
missions, ensuring that the learning
falls within the contextual environment
their learners are working in.
AI-ENABLED PROJECT
MANAGEMENT
relevant and empowers staff
with practical tools to enhance their
productivity and decision-making
capabilities, while presenting them with
real-world scenarios.
GAINING STAKEHOLDER ALIGNMENT
When it comes to securing a training
budget, alignment with organizational
goals and effective communication
with stakeholders are key. This has
proven true for Fugate's team at USAID:
" First and foremost, it's important that
I understand the agency's priorities
and goals, " she says. " Once I have that
understanding, I can then develop a
strategic plan. With the support of my
team, we work through these ideas
and align them directly with the overall
agency priorities and goals. " This has
proven effective in attaining funding
for her learning initiatives, enabling
her
to
convey
the
importance
specific initiatives to senior leadership
for approval and implementation.
ENSURING ACCESS TO TRAINING
USAID employees use learning
management systems (LMSs), knowledge
libraries and an agency intranet to access
their training materials.
To further ensure the alignment of
training to the needs of learners,
In response to increasing demand
from staff, Fugate's team is expanding
their offerings in project management
training, enhancing the content to
address current and future needs with
a particular focus on integrating AI.
Recognizing AI's transformative impact
on project management, courses now
include modules on AI-driven analytics
for project tracking, machine learning
for risk assessment and AI tools for
stakeholder communication and
engagement. " These enhancements
are designed to equip our team with
fundamental project management
principles, " Fugate says, " as well as
cutting-edge technological skills,
ensuring they are well-prepared
to leverage AI technologies to
enhance project outcomes and
overall productivity. "
of
Fugate's team is also in the early
stages of creating an Acquisition
Workforce Certification Fellows
program with Fayetteville State
University in Fayetteville, North
Carolina. The program, which was
launched in January 2024, is designed
to empower both undergraduate
and graduate students with the skills
they need to excel in the world of
acquisition and assistance. Another
model that Fugate's team is piloting
focuses on the needs of full-time
students, combining traditional
learning with opportunities to meet
and collaborate with acquisition and
assistance professionals at USAID and
throughout the industry. The goal of
these initiatives, according to Fugate,
is to " foster a sense of continuous
learning in the field. "
TRAINING INDUSTRY MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2024 I WWW.TRAININGINDUSTRY.COM/MAGAZINE
TRAINING IS A CRITICAL
COMPONENT OF
ORGANIZATIONAL
PERFORMANCE
AT USAID.
PROVING EFFECTIVENESS
" Training is a critical component of
organizational performance at USAID, "
says Fugate, " directly contributing
to our ability to innovate, adapt and
efficiently carry out our mission. " By
continuously upgrading the skills and
knowledge of their staff, they ensure
that their workforce stays current with
industry standards and best practices
while also equipping them with the
necessary tools to tackle the unique
challenges presented by USAID's
global initiatives.
As part of USAID's fiscal year 2025
strategic plan, Fugate's team is
focusing on creating a data analytics
strategy that enhances training
effectiveness and organizational
performance. " This strategy involves
identifying key data points related to
training and organizational outcomes, "
says Fugate, establishing methods
for capturing this data consistently
and setting up simple processes for
analyzing these data sets.
THE FUTURE OF LEARNING
AT USAID
" Learning for the acquisition and
assistance workforce is trending
towards experiential learning, Fugate
says,
" as
well
as
on-the-job
and
other non-traditional activities. " An
increasingly learner-driven mindset
enables organizations like USAID to
find new ways to implement mandatory
training, while supplementing those
requirements with additional skills that
cannot be learned in the traditional
classroom.
Mike Allen, CPTM is an editor at Training
Industry. Email Mike.
59
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