Abstract:

The Canadian Foreign Service Institute (CFSI) is the primary training provider for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD) and offers more than 250 learning activities serving around 20,000 participants every year. Its principal role is to provide top-quality, timely learning programs in the areas of international affairs, foreign languages, intercultural effectiveness, professional and management development and corporate accountability to colleagues at DFATD, both at headquarters and at diplomatic missions abroad. The Institute also welcomes participants from other departments at the Canadian government.

CFSI's clientele consists of a diverse group of learners dispersed both at headquarters and diplomatic missions around the world. Over the last few years, with increased use of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets by employees, CFSI has adopted mobile learning (mLearning) methods to maximize outreach and improve accessibility to training. This paper looks at ways CFSI is incorporating mLearning, including some factors considered in the design and development of courses, and the benefits experienced from adopting this approach. Ultimately, positive outcomes are essential to CFSI fulfilling its mandate of helping clients acquire the practical knowledge and skills they need to improve performance at work and prepare for future challenges and opportunities.

Keywords:

Mobile, learning, corporate, training, government, m-learning, e-learning, online, diplomacy, Canada.