The Office of International Training and Consultation is hosting a group of professionals from Asia and Africa which has been undergoing the Effective Management and Decision-Making training program since June 23.

The training is one of several certificate courses planned by the OITC. Franklin Van Buer, OITC director, said the OITC continuously develops and implements programs in such areas.

OITC Assistant Director Jaya Gajanayake points out the six participants in the current program are experienced professionals playing important roles in the private and public sector organizations in their home countries.

“We try to offer as much as we can to them, in way of the training and in the way of cultural experience they receive while they are here,” Gajanayake said.

Members will learn from major modules that include strategic management, organizational development, communication, computer applications, marketing and financial management. At the conclusion of the workshop, participants will engage in an actual design of a project to meet their own organizational needs.

According to the group, they have never used strategic management before, or even some of the computer applications used in American business. The steps the members have learned are aimed to enhance their current knowledge in areas of their field of interest. Higher output and more efficiency is also a goal for the group training.

Aside from in-depth classroom lectures, the group also has had the opportunity to visit many cultural areas of interest. Tours of Chicago, DeKalb and Starved Rock are only some of their trips.

“For the most of us, this summer has been our first visit to America. We really enjoyed the tours as they enhanced our experience here,” said group member Lucy Ng’ethe.

The training program will conclude this Friday.