Getting Started with Cross Border Collaboration

This course aims to provide you with the information and tools that you need at each stage of developing your cross-border project to ensure that it is both effective and creates a sustainable partnership.

Getting Started with Cross Border Cooperation will enable you to:

• Use evidence to effectively identify and define challenges in your community that your organisation can solve as part of fulfilling its core mission.
• Build sustainable partnerships with organisations on the other side of the border.
• Design and implement projects that benefit multiple jurisdictions in a way that each organisation alone could not achieve.
• Effectively demonstrate the value and impact of your project.

The course is free of charge and is open to any and all organisations on the island of Ireland who are considering engaging in a cross-border project for the first time.

There are two course options: a guided course with Anthony Soares, Director of the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation; and a self-guided course for independent learning.

How the courses compare

• Guided course

  The guided (or ‘facilitated’ or ‘blended learning’) course, which will have online sessions with members of our team to take you through the course, is for you if you:

  • Have a cross-border project idea in mind to explore
  • Have been thinking about cross-border collaboration for a while
  • Want to improve your cross-border project management skills

  The next course, with CCBC Director Anthony Soares, will start on 14 October 2025. Each of the six sessions will start at 11am and last one hour:

  • Tuesday 14 October  
  • Tuesday 21 October  
  • Tuesday 28 October 
  • Tuesday 4 November  
  • Tuesday 11 November, and 
  • Tuesday 18 November

  How does it work?

  1. Click the application form button
  2. Complete the form
  3. We’ll get back to you within 10 working days
  4. If you are successful, you’ll get an invite to the next guided programme
  5. If not, you will be on the waiting list for the next programme and you can access the self-paced course in the meantime

  Application Form

  

• Self-guided course

  The self-guided course is available for independent learning.

  This course is for you if you are:

  • Not sure what your cross-border project will be yet
  • Completely new to cross-border collaboration projects

  How does it work?

  1. Click the ‘get access today’ button
  2. You’ll be taken to the course page
  3. Click sign up
  4. You’ll have access to the content for 6 weeks, one module will be released to you per week
  5. You’ll receive weekly newsletters during the program
  6. You can sign up to the guided course afterwards if you want to work on a specific project idea

  Get access today

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the course duration?

  The online course is available to take independently and at your own pace – you can take as long as you need to complete the six modules that the course is made up of.

  The guided version of the course takes place over 6 weeks. You will need to complete the online modules according to a schedule so that you are prepared for each of the facilitated sessions. You can retain access to the online content after the course has ended for as long as you need.

• What is the course format?

  The online course is split into six modules, each dealing with different aspects of the design of a cross-border cooperation project. If you take it independently you can take as long as you need to complete it. The content consists of text, videos and interactive exercises.

  The guided version of the course is 6-weeks in duration. The same, 6-module online content will be available to you. There will be 6 online sessions that will be interactive and guided by a member of the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation. These sessions will be over Zoom and will include an overview of the content for each module, discussions and (when appropriate) breakout rooms You will need to complete the online modules according to a schedule so that you are prepared for each of the guided sessions. You can retain access to the online content after the course has ended for as long as you need.

• How much time should I dedicate each week?

  You should dedicate 3 hours to completing each online module. For the guided version of the course, each online session will be up to 90 minutes in duration and take place once per week for six weeks during working hours.

• Are there any prerequisites for the course?

  There are no prerequisites for the online course, and there is no requirement for you to have undertaken a cross-border project.

  However, if you want to take the guided version of the course, as the online sessions will be during working hours, you should clear this with your employer/manager if relevant in your case.

• Who is this course aimed at?

  The course has been designed for those employed in organisations on the island of Ireland involved in or wishing to be involved in cross-border cooperation projects, particularly those working in civic society/community organisations.

  It’s ideal for those looking to develop their skills or those of their employees in cross-border cooperation, and the guided version of the course will also provide you with the opportunity to network and share knowledge with other people working on cross-border projects, as well as offering the chance for you to identify potential cross-border project partners.

• Is there a certification or credential provided after completion?

  A digital badge is provided after you have either successfully completed the course independently, or taken the guided version of the course.

  If you take the course independently you will have to complete all six of the modules to acquire a silver badge, and if you take the ‘blended learning’ version you will also have to attend five of the six online guided sessions to acquire a gold badge.

  This badge contains metadata describing the learning that you have undertaken. This can be shared in your email signature or on social media, for example LinkedIn.

• How can I access the course materials?

  To follow the course independently, you can sign up to and access the online course here.

  To be able to take part in the guided version of the course, you need to register your interest here.

  The online materials are provided using a platform called LearnWorlds. Once you sign up for the online course, you will receive an email from LearnWorlds welcoming you to the course. You can use LearnWorlds on your desktop, laptop, tablet or phone. On a desktop or laptop works best and is safest from an ergonomic perspective.

• Are there assignments or exams?

  There are knowledge checks throughout the course. There are also activities to guide you through your first cross-border project that can be completed with your project partner.

  There are also introductory and feedback forms that you will be asked to complete at the start and end of the course. This is to assess the impact of the course on your ability to carry out a cross-border project. You will also be sent a follow-up form at 3, 6 and 12-months after you have completed the course.

  There is no final assessment or exam on the course content. The benefits of the course will be demonstrated through your ability to carry out a cross-border project once you have completed it.

• What is the cost of the course?

  There is no cost to this course. We only ask that you participate in the pre- and post-course feedback forms so that we can ensure that this course stays impactful and up to date for future participants.

• How do I contact support if I have technical issues?

  If you experience any technical issues during the course, you can contact projects@crossborder.ie

• Can I access the course after it ends?

  Yes, you can retain access to the online content in the course for as long as you wish.