IOA's New Virtual Foundations Course is Already Selling Out

After the global pandemic, the International Ombudsman Association canceled several of its signature in-person training sessions for new and aspiring Organizational Ombuds. IOA then spent months working with an outside agency to refashion the content for an online platform. The first two sessions of "Virtual Foundations of Organizational Ombudsman Practice Course" in October and November 2020 are already full. (Registrants from canceled in-person sessions were given priority.) 

There are some significant differences for participants:

• The traditional, in-person version of Foundations is offered quarterly and lasts three full days. The new Virtual Foundations takes the same number of hours (about 23.5), but is spread over five weekdays;
• Virtual Foundations will be offered much more frequently than the in-person version;
• The in-person class is capped at about 34, while the virtual class is limited to 24;
• IOA also is gently excluding aspiring Ombuds: The description states that the sessions are aimed at "recently appointed ombuds"; and
• Virtual Foundations costs the same (IOA members pay $1,695 and non-members pay $1,995), but participants save on travel and hotel costs.

Here's the full description from IOA: 

"Foundations of Organizational Ombudsman Practice" is offered multiple times each year in various locations, and now, online! The course covers the fundamentals of the organizational ombuds role based on the principles of confidentiality, neutrality, independence, and informality. Learn how to work with visitors to an office as well as how to act as a change agent within your organization. Practice key ombuds skills of listening, asking questions, clarifying, generating options, and moving to actions throughout the ombuds process. In addition, an experienced and highly committed faculty of ombuds will share best practices around setting up an office and evaluating and communicating the effectiveness of the office.

A third session of Virtual Foundations (November 30 through December 4, 2020) still has seats available. In the meanwhile, in-person Foundations remain on hiatus. (IOA Foundations Info.)