Despite challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre (JALLC) hosted the annual Joint Analysis Training Course from 09 November – 13 November. After months of preparation, eleven new JALLC employees participated in this week-long course. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the group split into three syndicates in an effort to limit the number of participants working together in a room and remain safe while retaining the value of group interaction to replicate the work of an actual JALLC analysis project team. In a hybrid fashion, each syndicate was digitally connected to the others using video conferencing software to encourage some form of larger group discussion and instruction.

Throughout the course, the trainees were taught the JALLC Project Approach, while also practicing different research and analysis skills to fully understand how to successfully complete a Joint Analysis project at the JALLC.

This was the first year that the participants conducted a Pre-Course Survey and Learning Review Survey in order to better gauge the information the students learned and retained, any lingering questions the students may have had, and the extent to which the pre-established learning objectives were met by the end of the course. The results of the surveys indicated substantial improvement in students’ familiarity with how the JALLC conducts analysis projects, what each stage of the project entails, and what a successful project looks like. The next course is already being planned for Autumn 2021.