Training
IAP2 Individual Courses
Descriptions & Delivery Dates
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
IAP2 FUNDAMENTALS OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION / ENGAGEMENT
This course is a prerequisite for Designing P2 and Engagement and Applying Methods.
What Makes Engagement Meaningful? Start Here.
At some point, we all ask the question: What does good engagement actually look like? Not just busy meetings or well-crafted surveys — but real, honest, two-way conversations that change things. That’s exactly where this course begins.
Fundamentals of P2/Engagement is the starting point for anyone on IAP2’s Global Learning Pathway. Whether you're stepping into this work for the first time or looking to ground your practice in something stronger, this course gives you the foundation to do engagement with purpose — and with impact.
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We explore the heart of P2/engagement: the values, the principles, and the practical tools that help build trust and create space for voices that need to be heard. You’ll learn the language of engagement — what makes it unique, what makes it meaningful — and how to navigate the complex realities that come with doing this work well.
This course isn’t just about learning frameworks — it’s about building a mindset. One that helps you see where influence lives, where participation grows, and where your leadership can make a difference.
If you want to do engagement that matters — this is where to begin
Who should take this course?
New practitioners beginning their journey in P2/engagement
Anyone working in the field or a related field who wants to understand and apply the fundamentals of meaningful and effective public participation and engagement practice
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By the end of this course participants will be able to:
Define P2/engagement and related terms and what makes it unique
Identify what makes P2/engagement meaningful, and reflect on the benefits, risks and myths related to P2/engagement
Identify the role that values play in P2/engagement work, and the leadership attributes that will serve them in practice
Reflect on and apply ethical leadership actions and abilities to P2/engagement situations
Apply the Profiles of P2/engagement model to P2/ engagement, and explore organisation- and community-led engagement and how that impacts the engagement process
Reflect on and apply the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, and explore the roles and impacts of power and influence
Apply the IAP2 Spectrum to P2/engagement situations and practice
Explore the Practice Framework as a tool for effective planning and process, and assess the quality of the process
DESIGNING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT
IAP2 Fundamentals of P2 is a prerequisite for this course
Good Engagement Doesn’t Happen by Accident — It’s Designed
There’s a moment in every engagement process where you pause and ask: Is this the right approach for this work, this project, this community? That question, and everything it leads to, is the heart of this course.
Designing P2/Engagement takes you deeper into the “how” of meaningful engagement. It’s where principles meet planning, and where good intentions become thoughtful, intentional action.
Whether you’re designing a community consultation, a city-wide strategy, or an internal engagement with staff, this course helps you build a plan that’s inclusive, purposeful, and ready for the real world.
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This course is especially useful if you’re responsible for leading the planning and execution of engagement processes. You’ll leave with a solid draft of an engagement plan — and the confidence to bring it to life.
Because good engagement doesn’t start with a method. It starts with a mindset — and a plan designed to serve the people it’s meant for.
Who should take this course?
Practitioners who are leading the planning and implementation of public participation and engagement practice processes
Participants who will be involved in the design and planning of public participation and engagement practice processes
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For a real-world scenario, design an engagement process and plan that includes:
Develop a clear scope of the work, problem or opportunity with identified negotiables and non-negotiables
Conduct detailed stakeholder analysis, community mapping and equity analysis
Identify appropriate roles and levels of influence for key players
Establish clear engagement purpose and objectives and success criteria/measures to suit scenario Identify relevant profiles of engagement
Conduct a detailed risk/opportunities assessment
Choose and sequence appropriate methods (F2F and digital), and identify communication tactics to suit the scenario
Identify key roles for senior leaders and decision makers
Explore principles and approaches for equity, diversity and inclusion, and apply them to stakeholder analysis
Embed digital strategies, platforms, tools and methods as part of the plan and process
Develop an evaluation framework to suit the scenario
Identify key roles and resources needed to implement the P2/engagement plan
Develop and apply a suitable pitch to senior leaders that will secure commitment and resources for the P2/engagement plan
Identify the many different contexts of engagement, including the elements present in more complex engagement scenarios
APPLYING METHODS
IAP2 Fundamentals of P2 is a prerequisite for this course.
You’ve Got a Plan. Now What? Time to Choose Your Methods.
It’s one thing to know why engagement matters.
It’s another to pick the right tool and bring it to life.
That’s where Applying Methods comes in.
This course is for practitioners ready to roll up their sleeves — the facilitators, coordinators, and team members tasked with actually making engagement happen. If you’ve ever asked Which method do I use? or How do I design this to work for everyone in the room?, this is your space to figure it out.
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You’ll be introduced to a wide range of public engagement methods — from well-known practices to more structured approaches like Deliberative Dialogue, Appreciative Inquiry, and Open Space Technology. But more than that, you’ll learn how to design and apply them well, using tools, templates, and checklists you can bring into your own work.
You’ll also explore how to build trust with key messages, how to manage data and evaluation, and how to make sure your design reflects the needs of diverse audiences — not just the easiest ones to reach.
This course is ideal for practitioners who are part of a team delivering engagement and want to feel more confident, more creative, and more grounded in method design.
Because engagement isn’t just about technique. It’s about creating moments where people feel seen, heard, and ready to act.
Who should take this course?
Practitioners with some public participation and engagement practice experience who are looking to cement their knowledge and skills
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By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
Identify a range of methods that can be used for various engagement purposes and processes, and strategies to select the most appropriate method/s for an engagement project/process.
Research, design and test a F2F and/or online method using a range of tools and resources.
Apply the four steps of designing a method incorporating the eight key components of method design.
Develop rational and experiential aims.
Design an appropriate format.
Design questions and process.
Develop appropriate communications.
Combine methods to achieve engagement goals and objectives and test for appropriate sequencing.
Incorporate inclusion and diversity principles
Identify data management needs, evaluation points and measures.
Identify resources required.
Explore a variety of both F2F and online methods/techniques that are more structured and have nested methods within them (e.g., Deliberative Processes, Appreciative Inquiry and Open Space Technology).
Analyse the specific requirements for online and digital methods, identify and select appropriate platforms and tools to meet needs and strategise to develop these methods for delivery.
Identify principles for monitoring online activity.
Test the design by running elements of the method and submitting to peer review using a checklist.
Apply methods to achieve engagement goals and objectives, including using effective communication skills, and test for appropriate sequencing.
Design key messages and communication tools that build trust and integrity, and meet the needs of diverse audiences.
ELECTIVE COURSES
MINI COURSES
P2 and Engagement for Senior Leaders
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Senior Leaders are: Management and Executive levels of an organization where decisions are made related to the whole of an organization and where accountability and responsibility rest. This can include the Executive team, Chief and Council, elected officials, or senior leadership of specific organizational departments.
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Culture Starts at the Top — So Does Engagement
You already lead teams, make big decisions, and drive strategic outcomes. But when it comes to public engagement – you are ready for some guidance and support
P2/Engagement for Senior Leaders is designed for executives, directors, elected officials, and decision-makers who shape not just policies and plans — but how the public experiences your organization.
In today’s complex environment, trust is currency. And engagement isn’t a checkbox — it’s a leadership responsibility. This course helps you step into that role with clarity, purpose, and skill.
Together, we’ll explore:
What meaningful engagement really looks like — and how to tell if your organization is doing it well
How power and influence (yours included) shape the quality of public engagement
The IAP2 Spectrum and Practice Framework — not just as tools for your teams, but as lenses for your leadership
What it takes to build an internal culture that welcomes dialogue, shares influence, and embraces transparency
You’ll reflect on:
The external pressures and internal drivers that impact how your organization shows up in community
Your role in building credibility, shifting perceptions, and fostering connection — even in times of conflict
How to lead culture change across departments and teams, supported by metrics and visible leadership
P2 and Engagement for Allied Professionals
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Allied Professional are those in professions other than P2/engagement where P2/engagement is not their sole or primary responsibility and who may be:
Responsible for ensuring P2/engagement is conducted
Required to do P2/engagement based on organizational or legal requirements in order to complete their projects
Providing support to P2/engagement processes
Technical experts
Overseeing P2/engagement conducted by others (ex. staff, contractors)
Examples include: engineers, land use planners, scientists, policy analysts and patient and family engagement practitioners
This course is NOT for those who:
Plan, design or implement P2/engagement plans
Are leading or actively involved in P2/engagement
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You’re Not “Just” Supporting the Process — You’re Shaping It
If you’re not the one leading the engagement — but it’s impacting your work and you play a part in the success of engagement – this course is for you.
Planners, policy analysts, engineers, communications staff, consultants, executive directors — so many professionals touch engagement without necessarily calling it their core job. But here’s the truth: whether you’re reviewing the plan, setting the timeline, managing the contract, or reporting to leadership, your choices can either open up space for meaningful public engagement… or unintentionally close it off.
P2/Engagement for Allied Professionals is built for those who support, influence, or oversee engagement as part of a bigger job. It’s a grounding in the “why” and “how” of ethical, inclusive public participation — especially when you’re not the lead, but you’re still at the table.
You’ll explore:
What P2/engagement actually means (and what it doesn’t)
What makes engagement meaningful, and how to avoid common pitfalls
The values, principles, and frameworks that guide good practice
The role of power, influence, and positional authority in shaping outcomes
How to apply the IAP2 Spectrum and Practice Framework in real-world contexts
What it means to show ethical leadership — even when you're not in charge
Whether you’re new to the world of public participation or you’ve been adjacent to it for years, this course helps you ask better questions, make better decisions, and support processes that invite people in — not push them out.
Because great engagement doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It takes a whole team — and your role matters more than ever.
“Thank you! I just wanted to let you know that the three days with you and our group of participants REALLY went so far above and beyond my wildest expectations. The IAP2 material was great, but the real zinger of the experience was you as a facilitator and trainer. I know I’m already equipped with much more than just the IAP2 framework – the tips and tricks you shared with us about leading, facilitating and practicing with intention are basically going to be foundational for everything, not just engagement. So, like from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU! My bucket is full and I can’t wait to top it back up in May. - Lisa, training participant”