The Municipal Training Centre (MTC), a self-sustainable organization, was established in 1993 as a joint initiative of the US-Baltic Foundation and the Kaunas University of Technology.

MTC's mission is to strengthen local governance in Lithuania and abroad by:

• Developing and implementing training programmes for public officials and politicians;
• Providing information, consulting and research services;
• Improving the performance of local government institutions;
• Initiating and implementing civic society development programmes.

One of the MTC's basic tasks is to assist municipalities to improve and modernize the way they provide services. The Centre provides good examples, outlines the possibilities of cross-administrative cooperation and familiarizes them with the latest developments in the field of local government.

Being a department of the Policy and Public Administration Institute of Kaunas University of Technology, the MTC works closely with Lithuanian (in particular with the Association of Local Authorities, the Lithuanian Institute of Public Administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) as well as foreign partners.

Training

MTC suggests training and consulting programs on subjects:

Basic training program for public servants

Finance

• Finance management and budgeting principles
• Management of environmental investment projects
• Management of investment projects
• Proposal writing
• Public purchases
• EU project management, structural funds

Strategic management

• Preparation of city/ district strategic development plan
• Preparation of institution’s strategic plan
• Managing organizational change

Management and administration

• Leadership
• Effective communication
• Organization and leader’s image
• Human resource management
• Ethics in public administration
• Organizational audit
• Time management

Information and communication

• Effective communication
• Electronic publishing
• Introduction to protocol
• Public relations

Environment

Non-governmental organizations (NGO) and community

• Public-private partnership
• Public participation in local decision-making
• Lobbying
• NGO management
• Project proposals and project management
  

Troubleshooting seminars (interpretation of new legislation, discussion on hot topics, sharing of good experience, meetings with experts, discussions).

Strategic planning for cities and regions

Municipal Training Center together with the municipal groups prepares city / district strategic development plans, particular attention paying to the principles of sustainable development, participation of the society in the preparation process of strategic development plan and a mechanism of the plan realization.

• It will focus organization's attention at solution of the most important problems and the most efficient usage of the resources.
• It will strengthen the image of a Municipality in the society, will guarantee participation of the community, business structures, NGO and other interests groups while preparing strategic plan and process clearness.
• Planning and group work skills of the Municipal employees will improve.

Preparation process of a strategic development plan consists of:

- Consultations. Experts of the Self-government Training Centre perform an exhaustive analysis of a city / district social and economic condition, evaluate advantages, shortages, possibilities and dangers of the city/ district.

- Public relations. City / district community is actively involved into preparation of a strategic plan during the whole process, mass media is informed, public meetings are organized.

- Trainings. Work group of the arrangers of the strategic plan formed of the municipality administration employees will complete a cycle of 3 seminars:

• Strategic planning and its process (2 parts);
• Funds of the European Union / writing of applications (1 part);
• Realization of the strategic plan (1 part).

Structure of the city / district strategic development plan:

• Vision of the city / district development.
• Priority trends and purposes of the city / district development
• Tasks and action plans.
• Tentative need of the means and sources.
  

Supplementary material

• Strategic plan preparation model
• Society information plan.
• Analysis of social, economic and environmental factors
• Strategic plan realization mechanism
• Material of public considerations and working seminars
• Articles in the press.
• Other additional documentation

Projects

The Municipal Training Center is well known in Lithuania and abroad. Training programs created by the centre, knowledge of the trained experts in various municipal spheres as well as organizational experience in strengthening local government, in strengthening civic society and in improving of qualification of civil servants are well-known and valued in other countries and international organizations.

The Municipal Training Center is proud of international recognition and strives to contribute to the efforts of international community to promote principles of democracy and effective local governance.

International projects implemented by MTC:

Azerbaijan:

Sharing of Lithuanian experience in the field of municipal management and local programs development (OSF, 2002).

Belarus:

• Promotion of Democratic Local Self-governance in Belarus (NED, 2004)
• Training in local election skills (NED, 2002-2003)
• Development of co-operation between Lithuanian and Belarus NGOs (NED, 2000-2001)
• Strengthening co-operation between Lithuania and Belarus (OSF, 1999)

Study tour of Kyrgyz local government officials to Lithuania (AED, 1999)

Russian Federation, Kaliningrad region:

• Localizing sustainable development strategies (UNDP, 2002-2005)
• Strengthening of NGO Sector in Kaliningrad Region (NED, 2002-2004)
• Strengthening local NGOs (NED, 2001-2002)
• Strengthening the co-operation between local governments and NGOs of Kaliningrad region and Lithuania (NED, 2000-2001)
• Strengthening local governments and NGOs (NED, 1999-2000)
• Promoting local government and civil society in Kaliningrad (NED, 1998-1999)

MTC representatives participate in international expert working groups: exchange experience, provide consultations for foreign local government professionals, learn modern working methods and initiate their implementation in Lithuania.

Municipal Training Centre holds a membership of:

• SCEPSTA (Standing Conference of European Public Service Training Agencies)
• NISPAcee (Network of Institutes and Schools of Public Administration in Central and Eastern Europe)
• ALDA (Association of Local Democracy Agencies).

Conference services

Are you planning a conference? Leave all organizational troubles to the Municipal Training Centre. We have experience and knowledge how to do that!

MTC offers the following conference organization services:

• Prevision of the event vision and drawing up of a plan.
• Budget planning
• Selection of event venue
• Coordination of the event.
• Participant registration
• Design and publishing of conference materials
• Event website
• Translation/ simultaneous interpretation
• Technical equipment
• Transportation
• Secretariat services
• Communication with mass media
• Leisure organization, cultural program

Experience

National conferences:

Forum "Regional development: to wait or to initiate?" Marijampole, April 14-15, 2005

Round table discussion for city managers "Lithuanian regional policy and EU" Birstonas, February 19-20, 2004

Meeting-discussion for city managers, Trakai October 9-10, 2003

Round table discussion for city managers "Changes in Lithuanian local government system: towards the best solution", Kaunas, January 22, 2003

Discussion/seminar for city managers on strategic planning, Kaunas, February 7, 2002

“Investment for Municipal Development: to look or to ask for?” Birstonas, April 5-6, 2001.

"Self Governance Today - Self Governance Tomorrow? 10 Years' Retrospective", Palūšė, Ignalina, June 29-30, 2000.

"Central and Local Government - Partners or Competitors?", - Juodkrantė, June 3-4, 1999.

"Partnership Formation Between Community and Local Government", - Birštonas, November 20-21, 1998.

International conferences:

“A School for All” Final Conference, April 22-23, 2004, Vilnius, Ministry of Science of the Republic of Lithuania in cooperation with the Nordic Council of Ministers

"Nordic Research and Innovation Co-operation with Lithuania", June 12th 2003, Vilnius, Lithuania in cooperation with the Nordic Council of Ministers

“Protection and Support of Victims of Trafficking in Women”, October 20-22, 2002; Vilnius, Lithuania in cooperation with the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Nordic-Baltic Campaign against Trafficking in Women;

“Regional Ministerial Seminar for the promotion of the ratification of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Crime and its Protocols”, June 4-5, 2002; Vilnius, Lithuania in cooperation with the Centre for International Crime Prevention, United Nations and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Lithuania;

“Health reforms in Europe: from policy to practice”, April 26-27, 2002; Vilnius, Lithuania in cooperation with European Council and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania;

“European norms and standards: ethics of the police in ordinary and emergency situations”; March 21-22, 2002, Vilnius, Lithuania in cooperation with European Council and Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Lithuania;

“Transfrontier cooperation in the woke of the planned enlargement of the European Union”; November 22-23, 2001, Vilnius, Lithuania in cooperation with European Council and Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Lithuania;

“Sharing experiences in regional cross-border cooperation”, May 28-29, 2001 Birstonas, Lithuania in cooperation with Nordic Council of Ministers;

“Cooperation between Lithuania and Belarus: a way to civil society” December 12-13, 2000, Vilnius, Lithuania in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania;

“Investment promotion in the Baltic Sea Region”, Kaunas. Lithuania, May 21-22, 1999 in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania.

Contacts

Municipal Training Centre at Kaunas University of Technology
Donelaicio st. 20-128, LT-44239 Kaunas, Lithuania
Tel.: +370 37 40 77 20, +370 687 8 15 20
Fax. +370 37 40 77 19
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