Basic Administration Training (BAT)

Public administration has been considered the leading institution for the overall management of public affairs. Nepal’s public service conduits the public administration, which requires a balance of cutting-edge ability and accountability. The public service is enriched through the entrants of the officers who have better exposure to technology, learning aptitude, imagination and critical thinking. We need to amplify the competency of new entrants by consolidating their knowledge, skills and attitude in a progressive way. The Constitution of Nepal underscores the fundamental qualities of the public administration as ‘fair, competent, impartial, transparent, free from corruption, accountable and participatory’. With these qualities, the public administration shall drive the nation at par with the global standard.

With immense potential and public aspirations for prosperity, Nepal has to take multiple initiatives for the socio-economic transformation of the country. This transformation will then lead to the vision of ‘sustainable peace, good governance, development and prosperity’. Hence, the direction and magnitude of transformation largely depend on the competency of public administration.

The Basic Administration Training (BAT), has been designed to provide learning and socialization exposure to the new entrants Gazetted Class III officers. The induction course is a package of components that together enhances the ‘circle of influence’ of the participants. It provides opportunities to augment knowledge, skills and behaviour through a number of in-class exercises, field visit, excursion, co-curricular activities and peer learning.

The course is based on the principles of developing a professional foundation for new entrants, who will have core skills for managing public affairs and delivery of public services in an efficient and innovative way. Creating a balance between theory and practice, the course provides participants with an opportunity for contestation, creation and consolidation.

COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK

The course is designed to enhance the three core competencies of the participants- a) values and ethos, b) proficiency and c) service orientation. These competencies together augment the ability of class III officers to become serving officers who will be committed to delivering quality services. These competencies are a set of knowledge, skills and behaviours that are essential constituents for elevating performance. As the frontline officers, they have to prepare themselves to take responsibility for providing citizen-centric services. With the advancement in technology and innovation, public service is at a crossroads. To deliver quality service, the public administration has to be forward-looking and performing. The induction course has been designed to promote the competency of trainee officers who will lead the frontline service delivery.

Values and Ethos: This competency is considered the foundation for building a value-based public administration. The values and ethos of public administration include integrity and ethics, creative and positive thinking, teamwork, accountability and rule of law, among others.

Proficiency: This competency enables one to acquire the required knowledge and skills for performing the assigned task efficiently and effectively.
Proficiency includes knowledge and skills such as efficient management of resources, building professional relationships, and use of technology, among others, for better performance.
Service Orientation: This competency develops the perspectives and attitudes of officer trainees to consider that serving the citizens is the soul of public service. As the custodians of public service, public officials need to have empathy, serving and problem-solving attitudes and work for public interest.

This course aims to transform trainee officers into ‘serving officers’, who have aforementioned competencies and demonstrate commitment to deliver ‘quality service’.

COURSE AIM

The induction course aims to develop the functional and behavioural competencies of new entrant officers to prepare them to take responsibilities with professional competencies and motivate them to serve the nation and its citizens.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

  • Appreciate and develop congruent values and ethos for serving the nation and its citizens
  • Internalize the enhanced roles and responsibilities of public officials
  • Develop innovative managerial skills required for managing public offices and functions
  • Realize and respect diversity and demonstrate inclusive behavior in their responsibilities
  • Develop perspectives on the policy environment and socio-economic development
  • Comprehend the federal system of state architecture
  • Update with the global perspectives of public administration and contemporary issue

TRAINING METHODS

The course shall be a fine balance between theory and practice, delivered through social learning approaches. It includes participatory methods, interactive lectures, simulations, group and individual exercises, and participant-led activities, among others. Throughout the course, participants will be recognized as co-facilitators and will have opportunities for engagement and contribution.
COURSE STRUCTURE

The course is a composite of thematic modules delivered through classroom, excursions, field visits and co-curricular activities (CCA). These components collectively contribute to enhancing the competencies of participants for better performance. The induction course has two phases. The first phase is a foundation course for the officer trainees of all service groups. It is generally of four months. The officer trainees from Revenue, Account, Audit, Parliament and Foreign Affairs will be graduated after completing foundation course and join the respective service specific training centers for the specific course. The officer trainees from General Administration group will continue the training at NASC.

Course Modules and Classroom Learnings

The classroom learning sessions provide analytical understanding as well as practical skills in various thematic areas of management, public administration, governance and service delivery. Contents in the classroom sessions have been structured at six different modules in the foundation course for the officer trainees of all services.

  • Module I: Self-Transformation and Managerial Proficiency (STMP)

Upon successful completion of this module, officer trainees will orient and align themselves with the core values and ethos of civil service and enhance essential managerial skills to perform effectively as serving managers after placement in their respective duty stations. This module covers the following areas of self-transformation and managerial proficiency in 36 learning sessions.

  • Module II: Communication and Decision Making (CDM)

Upon successful completion of this module, officer trainees will enhance their skills for office communication and decision-making that are instrumental to developing their managerial proficiency and delivering better public services as a serving manager. This module will be covered in 23 learning sessions.

  • Module III: Governance and Service Delivery (GSD)

This module aims to enhance understanding and analytical ability of the officer trainees in the areas of governance and public service delivery through 32 learning sessions.

  • Module IV: Development Management (DM)

Upon the successful completion of this module, officer trainees will demonstrate better understanding in basics of the policy development process, development planning and processes, project management and public financial management. This module will be delivered over 42 learning sessions.

  • Module V: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Report Writing (ICT & RW)

The thematic sessions in ICT module are designed to impart knowledge and skills on ICT and E-Governance to the trainee officers to support and implement Digital Governance initiatives in Nepal. In addition, the officer trainees shall be able to write persuasive and professional reports and present them to the evaluation team. Upon the completion of the sessions, the trainees will be familiar with the ICT skills in office management, service delivery activities and report writing. This module will be delivered through 21 learning sessions.

  • Module VI: Language Competency: Communicative English (CE)

The thematic topics in this module basically aims at enhancing listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills of participants in English language. The module is covered through 21 learning sessions.

  • Module Assignments

The trainee officers are required to complete six assignments, one for each module in the course. These assignments are designed to evaluate the trainee officers' comprehension and practical application of the topics covered in each module. The assignments will include but are not limited to a written examination, report preparation and presentation, and individual assignments.

Know Your Country (KYC)

KYC is a week-long immersive and interactive excursion to different parts of the country. During this excursion trainee officers will have close observation of government functions and interact with people. It will develop perspectives of officer trainees on geographic, socio-economic, and cultural aspects and livelihood of people. They will also learn about the state of service delivery and the scope of reform from the people’s perspective. This excursion is a part of socialization and lab for developing skills like leadership, public communication, research and analysis, empathy, thinking innovatively, which are then required for better service delivery. Participants have to prepare a learning reflection report and share in the plenary, in a given structure. NASC will arrange for transportation facilities and participants will be provided subsistence allowance as per the NASC rules.

INTERNSHIP

The trainee officers from the General Administration service group will have to complete two months internship. The internship is one of the critical components of the induction course. The aim of the internship is to provide extend learning opportunities for officer trainees, before assuming the full responsibility. This will then better prepare them to take responsibility on their deputation. During internship, officer trainees will be placed in different district level and municipal offices. Officer trainees will learn about ways of functioning under the supervision of the assigned office chief and co-workers.

This exposure will be instrumental to learn organizational culture, work environment, the status and issues of service delivery. Placement of officers trainees will be based on defined criteria with the intention of providing learning opportunity. The officer trainees will receive monthly subsistence stipend and transportation cost as defined by NASC.

For more information please contact BAT Secretariate

Course Coordinators and Participants List