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Managers’ Training Programme (MTP)

ABOUT THE MTP AND TACIS

What is MTP?

The Managers’ Training Programme (MTP) is a Tacis project, financed by the European Union (EU). Over a two-year period – starting in February 2000 – the MTP will provide more than 1000 traineeships across the EU for managers from Russia and other NIS countries.

MTP’s overall aim is to support the development of Russian and other NIS economies by assisting in the training of managers. Activities are designed to have an immediate impact on improving company performance.

MTP offers 1, 2 and 3 month sponsored internships in EU companies working on substantial management projects. All trainees are provided with seminars on general business practice, and economic issues in the EU. In addition to Russia, candidates from Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan are encouraged to apply.

Benefits:
Benefits for participating NIS managers will be a chance to work in depth on some aspects of Western management practices, and significant knowledge of the Western business culture and management practices.

EU host-companies will benefit from the possibility of establishing new business contacts, receiving a management report on a real business issue of their choice, and gaining insights into Russian and other NIS management cultures.

Programme background:
The programme was launched to support the Russian Presidential Initiative as the largest ever EU financed training programme. It replaced the Productivity Initiative Programme.

PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION

Characteristics:
Traineeships start with an introductory seminar, followed by an internship in an EU company, and finish with a seminar in a major European city.
The MTP offers different types of traineeship: • 1-month traineeships tailored for senior managers. Two weeks are spent on company visits supported by interpreters if required.
• The 2- and 3-month traineeships are designed for middle and junior managers. The internships last 6 or 10 weeks. Normally the trainees will work in pairs on joint projects. Each participant will have a clearly defined project assignment.

Placement of trainees:
Individual qualifications and the agreement on a project assignment will be the key determinants of placing trainees. This approach ensures that both the candidate’s and company’s interests are taken into consideration.

Candidate profile:
Participants in the programme will normally be 25 to 55 years old and have at least three years of professional management experience. In addition, candidates for the 2 and 3-month traineeships have to speak at least one EU-language to a good standard.

Host-company profile:
The MTP-programme is open to all sectors of business and industry. To qualify, a company needs only to be committed to hosting a trainee, and must be based in the EU.

Costs:
The programme is free to candidates. There are no direct costs for companies. The Tacis Programme is an EU initiative for the New Independent States (NIS) and Mongolia which fosters the development of economic and political links between the EU and these countries. In order to support the process of transformation to market economies and democratic societies, Tacis provides grant finance for training and consulting activities.

Partners:
The programme is managed by a consortium of partners from eight European countries: Deutsche Management Akademie Niedersachsen (Germany), Finnish College for SME Business Administration (Finland), Fomento (Spain), Formaper (Italy), Institut Français de Gestion (France), Niels Brock Copenhagen Business College (Denmark), Manchester Business School (United Kingdom), WIFI der Wirtschaftskammer Österreich (Austria).