Political Training Programs
Objectives
1. Our primary aim is to increase the number of centre right politicians elected to public office. This goal will be achieved through the training and mobilization of skilled party leaders and grassroots activists.
2. Our wider purpose is to broaden support for our member parties, principally by strengthening popular belief in and understanding of our commitment to individual liberties and responsibilities.
3. Our programs will be specifically tailored to meet the diverse needs of the participants in our programs, who hail from different political cultures and who face a wide range of policy challenges in their respective countries.
Programs
In all the following programs, a principle of "mutual obligation" will be applied to individuals who receive training thanks to business support. Investment by the APDY in an individual participant will be conditional on an agreement from the beneficiary to actively engage in future APDY activities in return. As a standard commitment, party delegates who receive educational assistance will be required to submit a written report on their experiences suitable for publication on the webpages of the APDY and will be required to arrange similar publications or a speaking tour inside the internal forums of their respective political party.
Program A. Developing Countries Program.
Design: This program is intended to provide training support for young political leaders from developing countries, which they would not ordinarily receive in their own country. Several policy classes will be professionally organised. Case studies will highlight economic success stories - such as Taiwan and Singapore, which have moved very swiftly from being underdeveloped economies, into being economic powerhouses. This program will also provide insights into emerging policy fields - of which there is little experience yet in developing countries. Constitutional structures will also be another key training area, allowing delegates to examine the links between political stability and economic confidence.
Implementation: Awaiting funding.
Program B. Campaign Training Program
Design: Professional campaign and polling experts will be brought together with upcoming political activists who are closely involved in campaigns in their own countries. Strict entry requirements will be applied to ensure that funding is supporting the candidates most likely to become dominant figures in their respective parties.
Implementation: Awaiting funding.
Program C. The Website Development Program
Design: This program will allow the development of an extensive website, with practical resources designed for activists at all levels in the political process. Organisers' handbooks, campaign materials and other documents will provide a comprehensive range of tools required by the political professional. Student resources will also be increased, including a comprehensive set of political history briefs and other materials suitable for school and university curriculums. Country profiles will be designed to ensure that participants on international exchanges can be fully appraised on the political environments of host countries.
Implementation: The website has already been launched thanks to the free web-hosting services of Geocities. However voluntary contributions alone will not be enough to complete the extensive web project envisaged above.
Program D. Policy Development Program
Design: Policy workshops and forums will be undertaken in conjunction with the Conventions of the APDY, in order to minimise cost. However, the hiring of expert panelists and speakers will require funding to cover their travel and accommodation. A publication series will also commence if funding can be secured to commission discussion papers by appropriate think tanks. This research will be conducted on priority topics determined by APDY members and will serve as a basis for internet discussion groups.
Implementation: Awaiting funding.
Program E. International Conventions Program
Design: Conventions of the APDY will enable young political leaders from across the region to converge and examine common problems and challenges. Professional campaign training schools will be held in conjunction with these events, where funding is available under the Campaign Training Program. Discussion forums will cover policy issues, campaign techniques and strategies, and internal party organisation. Where funding allows, travel assistance will be provided for international delegates from developing countries to attend, under the terms of the Developing Countries Program.
Implementation: Awaiting funding. The initial meetings of the APDY have been limited to very modest agendas, including only APDY organisational issues and general policy direction.
Funding
Please see the Business Support page of this website, or pass on the address to potential sponsors who you know.