Once you know what training your people need, the next decision is how to deliver it. The three main options are public courses, where participants from different organisations learn together; in-house courses, delivered only for your team; and live virtual sessions. Each has a place.
When public courses work best
Public courses are usually the right choice when:
- Only one or two people need the training. Paying for a whole in-house programme would not make sense.
- Participants benefit from outside perspectives. Hearing how other organisations approach procurement, budgeting or leadership broadens thinking.
- The topic is specialised. Exam preparation for certifications such as PMP® or CBAP® often suits mixed groups of candidates.
- Networking matters. Senior professionals often value meeting peers from other sectors and countries.
When in-house training pays off
In-house training tends to be better value when:
- Five or more people need the same course. The cost per person falls quickly as the group grows.
- You want the content tailored. Case studies, examples and exercises can use your own policies, systems and challenges.
- Confidentiality matters. Teams can discuss real problems openly without outsiders in the room.
- You want a shared language. Training a whole team or management layer together makes change easier to sustain.
- Scheduling is tight. Dates, times and venues are set around your operational needs.
Where live virtual training fits
Live virtual training, delivered through Zoom or Microsoft Teams with a real facilitator, removes travel and accommodation costs and makes it easy to train people in several cities or countries at once. It works best when sessions are shorter (for example, half days over a week), cameras are on and activities are designed for online interaction rather than copied from a classroom.
A simple cost comparison
When comparing options, include every cost, not just the course fee:
| Cost item | Public course | In-house course |
|---|---|---|
| Course fee | Per person | Per group (often with a maximum group size) |
| Venue and catering | Included | Your premises, or arranged for you |
| Travel and accommodation | Per person, if out of town | Facilitator travel only |
| Time away from work | Full days | Can be scheduled flexibly |
For groups of about five or more, in-house delivery is often cheaper per person, and the tailoring is a bonus.
A blended approach
Many organisations combine formats: senior specialists attend public courses for exposure and certification preparation, whole teams complete in-house programmes, and regional staff join live virtual sessions. Planning this mix as part of your annual training plan makes your skills budget go further.
How Afriskora delivers
Every Afriskora course is available as a public classroom course in cities across Africa, as live virtual training and in-house for your team, with tailoring at no extra planning fee. Request in-house training and tell us your group size, location and preferred dates, and we will propose the best format and a quote.