Document: The Challenge And Importance Of Training Government Employees / Training Program
Written: 19.1.97	updated: 31.10.97
Version: 1.0	
Author: David Rashty

Upon entering the network and information technology era, we must consider the issue of training public sector employees to work in the environment of the new generation of information networks (Internet and Intranet).

The technology’s lack of maturity (particularly in Hebrew support) and the fast pace at which it is developing, create a training problem, as some applications will no longer exist in a year or two, or their configuration will change radically, while many new applications will penetrate the market in that period of time.

We must define a number of groups of employees who need training, some of whom will need to be trained once and some of whom will need perpetual training, and offer each group the appropriate type of training.   The timing of training these groups of employees must be coordinated with the pace at which the technology is assimilated into government ministries and the market in general.

The Government Internet Committee has taken on the task of promoting public sector employee training in using network and information technologies.  The committee has defined types of skills government employees need and prepared a professional workshop for each kind of skill, designed to advance employees’ understanding in order to make professional and efficient use of information technologies.  In addition to workshops, monthly forums have been established which attempt to respond to on-going needs and present the new technologies in the employees’ areas of activity.

Employee training is also conducted through guided-study courses.  These courses enable us to reach a large number of employees and enable each employee to learn at their own pace.

The Government Internet Committee’s workshop program will enable government ministries to introduce new technologies and facilitate a rapid, efficient transition to an available government tool.  They also contribute to the service government ministries provide citizens and the methods employed by these ministries.

Following are the definitions of the types of skills and workgroups:

1. 	System Managers - This is a small group of people with training in computer system management and writing software applications.  The group manages the computer systems on which the new generation information servers operate.  The group also handles the transition and merges old technology with new.  At this stage, no special training has been prepared for this group and they will be included in the training provided for Web Masters.
•	Training:  Basic Web Masters workshop (64 hours) and advanced Web Masters workshop (64 hours).

2. Web Masters - This is a small group of employees with training in information site maintenance. This group maintains the various ministries’ sites.
•	Training:  Basic Web Masters Workshop (64 hours) and advanced Web Masters workshop (64 hours).
•	Regular forum:  Web Masters’ Forum.

3. 	Internet Information Specialists - Small group of employees with training in new generation databases and information retrieval systems.  These employees must provide the various ministries solutions for retrieval of professional information from the network, as well as data collection, organization, and storage in the information system each ministry establishes.  
•	Training:  Internet Information Specialists Workshop (64 hours).
•	Regular forum: Internet Information Specialists Forum (to launch during 1998)

4. Internet Security Specialists - Small group of employees with training in data security for open information networks.  These employees determine working procedures and connectivity of ministry computer networks.  Their training includes in-depth understanding of the structure and activity of computing networks, as well as advanced data security methods.
•	Training:  Basic Internet Data Security Workshop (64 hours), Advanced Internet Data Security Workshop (64 hours).
•	Regular forum:  Internet Data Security Forum (to launch during 1998)

5. 	Managers - Unit managers in the various ministries are responsible for a large number of employees and are among the ministries’ decision-makers in rank.  These employees must understand technological innovations and their advantages for the ministry in which they work.  They must accept technology as a tool that betters their ability to manage and improve the service provided to the public.
•	Training: Introduction to Internet (independent study course), one-day Internet course (8 hours), one-day course in the dangers of data security in government ministries (5 hours).

6. 	Professional employees and service providers - Employees whose jobs require access to information on the Internet and are in contact with foreign concerns, or employees in contact with other concerns or the general public and are responsible for providing services.  These employees will need to use information technology both to provide responses to requests and to access information vital to their jobs.
•	Training: Introduction to Internet (independent study course), Employee data security course (independent study course), one-day Internet course (8 hours), one-day course in the dangers of data security in government ministries (5 hours).

Schedule According to Course and Start Date

Forums

The forum is a regular work group, including the professionals dealing with a given matter from all the ministries.  The forum convenes regularly and includes a lecture on professional subject matter and an open discussion.  In addition to the regular meeting, discussions are conducted via a mailing list and an information site for forum members.

List of Forums:
•	WebMasters Forum - began in September 1997, meets regularly.
•	Internet Information Specialists Forum - will start at the beginning of 1998, will meet regularly.
•	Internet Security Forum - will start at the beginning of 1998, will meet regularly.

Workshops

The workshops were designed to train ministry professionals in the use of computer and information technology for each field of activity.

List of Workshops:
•	Basic Web Masters workshop (64 hours) - second class held in November 1997.
•	Advanced Web Masters workshop (64 hours) - first class will be held beginning 1998.
•	Basic Internet data security workshop (64 hours) - first class will be held beginning 1998.
•	Internet Information Specialists workshop (64 hours) - first class will be held during 1998.
•	One-day Internet course (8 hours) - first class to be held at the end of 1997.
•	One-day course in the dangers of data security in government ministries (5 hours) - will be offered from the beginning of 1998.

Independent Study Courses

The independent study course will enable public sector employees to study on their own time and at their own pace.  The courses will be available via Internet and on mobile magnetic media.

List of Independent Study Courses:
•	Introduction to Internet - the course will be ready by the end of 1997.
•	Employee Data Security Course - the course will be ready by mid-1998.

	WebMasters Basic  	WebMasters Advanced	Basic Internet Data Security 	Advanced Internet Data Security	Internet Information Specialists	One-day Seminar in Data Security Dangers	One-day Seminar Introduc-tion to Internet	Data Security for Employees	Introduction to Internet	Regular Forum	
Duration	64 hours	64 hours	64 hours	64 hours	64 hours	5 hours	8 hours	Independent Study	Independent Study		
System Managers	Yes	Yes									
WebMasters	Yes	Yes								Yes	
Internet Information Specialists					Yes			Yes		Yes	
Internet Security Specialists			Yes	Yes						Yes	
Managers						Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes		
Professional Employees						Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes