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Dutch government officials programme
The international activities of the National Academy are only a limited part of the total. The primary function of the National Academy is to organize trainings and conferences for Dutch government officials in the field of Public Financial Management, Audit, Economics and Operational Management.
In total about 50 persons work for the National Academy, comprising of the head of the Academy, heads of programmes, project managers, project advisors, project supporters and facility managers.
Our Public Financial Management, Audit, Economics Trainings
In order to have a picture of our trainings on Public Financial Management, Audit and Economics we explain some of them below. Besides the regular trainings we also develop customized trainings on request of our clients, mostly financial-economic affairs and audit departments of ministries.
PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
VOFHA-trainings
This training on public financial management for higher civil servants aims to give participants a broad view on the role of financial management in central government. Generally speaking all starting civil servants in the financial function follow this course, which takes about 20 working days in total diffused in 3 to 4 months.
Participants learn more about the financial function, the role and duties of the financial economic affairs department, the role and function of the budget and its process, macro economics, our social security and health care system, the role of the audit departments and Court of Audit. The training ends with a simulation of the budget process.
Budgetary rules and regulations
Working in the field of financial management within central government means that one has to know the rules and regulations. In this course auditors, financials and controllers can obtain the necessary knowledge in depth. Among others the Organic Budget Law, the budgetary cycle and the rules for agencies are explained. The course takes 4 working days.
Other courses that are offered in this field of financial management are among others: the certified public controller training, accrual accounting, business cases, financial administration, risk management and data analysis and visualisation.
AUDIT
For internal auditors the National Academy has a full range of specialist trainings that are tailor made for working within the context of central government. The trainings are complementary to the regular postgraduate trainings. Besides trainings that have been selected as obligatory for auditors (such as on fraud) the National Academy also offers trainings that focus on current actual topics.
By attaining our trainings the internal auditors can obtain permanent education points. Some examples of audit trainings are explained below.
The Fundaments of auditing
An audit is an essential instrument in the control environment of each organization. This training focuses on the tasks and instruments an auditor can use with audits within and outside the central government. The total control cycle will be explored and practiced within an example organization. The training will end with a simulation where each participant will make up its own audit report. The duration of this course is 4 days.
Risk management audits
Auditors have a role in advising the management of their ministry or organization in the implementation and functioning of (integral) risk management. Auditors will have to audit the used risk management systems of their organisations. In this course practical tools will be given on how to do this. Themes that are explored in this training are among others the three lines of defense, management control framework, risk models for central governments. The training takes 2 days in total.
Some other trainings that are offered in the field of audit are public sector auditing, fraud control and detection, interview techniques, the psychology of judgements, quantitative methods and techniques.
ECONOMICS
The economics trainings of the National Academy enlarge ones knowledge in economic institutions and coherence of economics. They give insight in the pro’s and contra’s of government interference and effects of different policy measures. The courses are not only open for economists but also non-economists. Some examples are explained below.
The functioning of the Dutch economy
In this training a thorough insight in macro-economics is given, such as the economic cycle, forecasting, macro-economic analysis. Also the role of the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis is explained. The training lasts 4 working days.
Government economics
In this course public finance is discussed thoroughly. Main focus is the role of government in attaining the most public welfare. Among others the Dutch pension system, the organization of the welfare state, the influence of tax and premiums on the economic development and the sustainability of the Dutch public finances are explored.
Our Operational Management Trainings
Operational management is a broad discipline. An operational manager will have to gain knowledge on several fields in order to give advice from different perspectives. The National Academy finds it important that advisors in the field of operational management have a broad orientation. We therefore offer a broad range of trainings: public procurement, ICT, purchase of goods and services, contract management, data-analysis and some general operational management trainings. Below two examples of trainings are explained.
Masterclass operational management
In cooperation with academies on other fields within Dutch government, the universities and consultants the National Academy offers a masterclass operational management. This masterclass aims to inspire managers in order to make relevant decisions in their current and future operational management of their organization. Some top speakers will lead the participants to the actualities and future of operational management. The masterclass is held four afternoons.
Purchase of ICT
The Dutch central government yearly purchases ICT-supplies for a large amount. The rules for the purchase and procurement are not always very clear for government purchasers. And how can you guarantee integrity when you are in contact with market parties. In this training we aim to professionalize the purchase and public procurements officials. The duration is 1 day.
Programme Board and Advice Council
The National Academy also has two Programme Boards and an Advice Council. The aim of the participants of these bodies is to guarantee a high quality of our work. The Boards consist of stakeholders and experts from the field. They work in different ministries and organisations. The council consists of clients and experts with extended experience that have a profound experience and engagement with the National Academy. They give strategic advice to the management of the National Academy on the quality of the trainings, the programme, the organization and its financial health. The former minister of Finance, Mr Gerrit Zalm, is chair of this council.
The by-us for-us principle
The National Academy aims to mobilize the best experts from the work field. They are our added value and strength. They know the recent developments in their work field and how to teach this to other civil servants. Because they come from the work field themselves, they know the dilemmas, opportunities and challenges one faces in the financial function within government.