This five-day course is intended to provide U.S. Embassy and partner organization staff that support American Spaces, with fundamental skills in strategic planning, programming, and engagement through active learning and the exchange of best practices.

Objectives: At the completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Gain a broader understanding of the role of American Spaces in supporting U.S. foreign policy and public diplomacy objectives.
• Plan, develop, and implement innovative programming that incorporates Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) resources like EducationUSA, English Language, Alumni, Speaker Programs, Tech Camps, and Culture in support of public diplomacy goals.
• Develop a project plan for an American Space that sets out clear objectives and includes strategic planning methods like SMART Goals and the A-F model.
• Improve American Spaces management and programming through sharing of best practices and networking with colleagues.
• Explore new technologies and information resources designed to enhance public discourse at American Spaces.

Completion of PY351 is required prior to being nominated for PY352, and it is generally expected that nominees will have had at least one year after completing PY351 to gain additional practical experience before taking PY352.

This five-day course is primarily intended for Locally Engaged Staff who are responsible for the oversight of a country network of multiple American Spaces and strategically using that network to support whole-of-mission goals. Foreign Service Officers and partner organization staff may be nominated and accepted with sufficient justification. Participants are expected to have gained intermediate to advanced skills in the development and operation of modern American Spaces. Building on skills developed in PY351 (prerequisite for PY352), participants will implement advanced techniques through hands-on activities, excursions, breakout intensives and other opportunities for practical application. This course focuses on strategic management techniques for managing two or more American Spaces in-country, including strategic planning, program evaluation, effective creation and use of networks, staffing, funding and partnerships.

Objectives: At the completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Develop a strategic plan for a network (two or more) of American Spaces to achieve defined goals using strategic planning tools
• Identify and address key challenges encountered by persons coordinating multiple (two or more) American Spaces
• Strategically link requests for funding to public diplomacy goals and standards for American Spaces
• Evaluate the user experience in their American Spaces, both physical and virtual
• Explain how to use evaluations of their American Space to make data-driven decisions about physical space and programming and other management decisions
• Measure and demonstrate the impact of a network of American Spaces in supporting U.S. foreign policy goals
• Identify the key elements that make a strong strategic partnership for American Spaces and techniques to grow a successful partnership or transition an unsuccessful one

In addition to the courses above, REPS often host in-country training for groups of American Spaces staff.  Such training should be organized by working with your. She/he can offer the same training topics as PY351, but tailor the training to the needs of the staff of either a single American Space, or preferably staff from across a country’s American Spaces who are gathered for training by the embassy.

In addition to the courses above, REPS periodically host regional training for groups of American Spaces staff. Regional trainings can include the same training topics as the courses above or focus on a regional priority.