Applying the Kirkpatrick Model for Nuclear Security Training: The WINS Academy Year One Results

This paper is connected to the work WINS has done developing a model training programme, called the WINS Academy, to help the international community meet the need for demonstrably competent personnel in nuclear security. Launched in April 2014, the WINS Academy provides personnel with management accountabilities for nuclear security with opportunities to become professionally certified. As discussed in a paper presented at the 56th INMM Annual Meeting and entitled “Measuring the Impact of Nuclear Security Training: The Case of the WINS Academy Professional Society”, nuclear security training programmes, which are meant to support organisational goals and strategic objectives, also represent a significant investment from organisations. It is important to validate their quality and impact in order to guide future development. One of the most widely used approaches to evaluating training results is the Kirkpatrick Model. Its objective is to help organisations determine the extent to which participants can apply their training to their work in a way that demonstrably increases organisational performance. The Model consists of four levels: ? Level 1 measures participants’ reaction to the training ? Level 2 evaluates the learning that occurs as a result of the training ? Level 3 assesses the transfer that has occurred in learners’ behavior ? Level 4 measures the impact of the training on business results In order to measure the impact of the training provided by the WINS Academy, we have integrated key elements of the Kirkpatrick Model in our programme. One example of this is the Feedback Survey programme, started in December 2015. So far, 100% of the respondents say they believe the WINS Academy Programme is relevant for improving the competence of nuclear security professionals, and that earning a certification from WINS is valuable for their career development. The majority of the respondents also believe the certification had an immediate benefit on their career and helped them to do their job more efficiently. We are continuously monitoring key performance indicators to evaluate the impact the WINS Academy has on our participants’ careers; this paper presents key findings from this evaluation, two years after the launch of the Programme.