Learning pathways

There are no learning pathways currently available in English. Eventually we plan to offer pathways in English where possible and where there is demand for it.

Not yet, but there certainly will be in the future. Mission staff are also an important target group for us. We are inviting input from dozens of staff members in order to get a specific picture of how a learning pathway can be of value to staff at the missions.

A learning pathway is a kind of route map that guides a user through all the logical and relevant learning activities that are suitable for a certain job group. It provides you with a useful overview of all activities that could benefit your development in your current job.

Ultimately, there will be learning pathways for everyone at BZ, whatever their job group. Whether you work in The Hague or at a mission, as a civil servant posted abroad or a local employee, learning and development are important for us all. Besides the current pathways for management assistants and country officers, we will soon be introducing pathways for advisers, policy officers and consular officers.

A learning pathway covers the elements that are essential for doing your job and also describes learning activities aimed at acquiring broader or specialist knowledge or skills. Learning activities include online and classroom-based courses and workshops, reading materials like articles and books, references to other information, and suggested internships. You can choose from the themes and learning activities in the learning pathway to draw up your own individual learning plan. In other words, within a pathway you make personal choices based on your own needs. A colleague in the same job as you will therefore probably follow a different route through the pathway.

You can use a learning pathway whenever you like. You don’t need to register. A learning pathway is a list of learning activities. It doesn’t have a start or end date. Discuss with your manager which activities you will do, and write this down in an individual learning plan. You can then start doing the learning activities you’ve agreed upon.

No. A learning pathway helps you navigate a collection of relevant, interesting courses and workshops (and other learning resources) that are suitable for your job group. A learning pathway has no fixed beginning or end, so you don’t receive a certificate when you complete it. Together with your manager, determine which elements of the pathway are relevant to you and include these in your individual learning plan.

You use the learning pathway to develop your own individual learning plan, which usually comprises several learning activities and a time frame for completing them – within one year, for example. You don’t receive a certificate for the learning pathway itself.

An individual learning plan helps you continue learning throughout your career. In the plan, you define your goal – what you want to achieve – and what you need to learn in order to achieve it. Then link this to specific learning activities and set a schedule. Using the learning pathway, you should choose themes that you want to know more about or that will facilitate your personal development.

The following points will help you draft your learning plan. Make it SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-related. Discuss your learning plan with your manager and write down what you agree.

Your learning plan should describe:

1. your learning goals;
2. your learning activities;
3. what you’ll get out of achieving your learning goals;
4. what – or who – you’ll need to achieve your learning goals;
5. how much time per day/week/month you’re going to spend on your learning activities, and when you’re going to schedule that time;
6. how you will reflect on what you’ve learned: by writing it down, for instance;
7. how you will monitor your progress: when, and with whom, will you discuss your results?

As the above points make clear, you need to plan not only your learning activities, but also reflection time and feedback. Reflection is something you can do by yourself, with someone you ask to help, or with your manager. Feedback sessions should be arranged with the person you’ve made agreements on learning with – usually your manager.

No. A learning pathway is intended to help you develop in your current role, so you can maximise your performance in the job you do now. At the same time, of course, your personal development and everything you learn and do can help you as you move forward in your career.

No. A learning pathway is an overview of learning activities, which is always accessible. Most learning activities offered by the Academy are free of charge. However, there may be costs involved if you want to do an activity provided by an external party.

The learning pathways are accessible to all BZ staff. Feel free to explore all the available pathways, as well as the learning activities linked to them. That way you’ll find out what a learning pathway is, how it’s structured and how it can help someone decide what they want to learn. If you don’t see a learning pathway for your job group, see the answer to the next question.

Besides the learning pathways for management assistants and country officers, pathways will soon be available for advisers, policy officers and consular officers.

If a learning pathway isn’t working or you need more information, please contact the Academy.