Oliver Spätgens
Senior Consultant & Learning Expert
Working and travelling around the globe
I am in the lucky situation, that during my life and now due to my work as consultant in the area of development cooperation a lot of my assignments resulted in travels to countries, others like to visit in their holidays.
United Kingdom 1991 April - May
English language refreshing course
Japan 1992 August
My first time out side of Europe and directly far away towards Japan. In Management studies Japan was the country of the most advanced techniques at that time. I was highly interested in the country and culture. Well prepared by reading a lot of books, I had an unforgettable experience, which last until today. Japanese kitchen and cooking Japanese by myself is still a personal favourite nowadays.
Netherlands1994 - 1998
My first full-time job started at the Hogeschool Venlo, nowadays Fontys Hogescholen Venlo, respectively Fonts university of Applied Science. It was the first German language based courses in Economics and Marketing provided by a Dutch University of Applied Science targeting German students. One of the most interesting activities was the forming of bi-national student groups tasked to find a company and develop crossing-borders marketing activities for the companies. My intensive personal memories are related to extensive playing darts, spending a lot of time on fishing at the river Maas and playing volleyball in a local amateur team.
Russia 1996 Four visits in 1996 - all seasons
I hold e.g. seminars at the Moscow Energetic Institute (MEI) about:
“The European Model for Quality Management” & “Management in the warmth energetic”
Mongolia 1998 - 2001
Executive Director at IDER Institute (CIM - Integrated Expert Programme)
Head of Department Management studies. Implementation of a modern educational management. Coaching of teaching and management staff, etc.
Italy May 2002 - April 2003
External Financial Assessor for EU-funded Higher Education projects (TEMPUS)
at European Training Foundation in Torino, Italy
UN Mission in Kosovo - UNMIK February 2003 - April 200
EU-Project (Interim Management) HRM & HRD activities. Trainings on Management topics,
re-organisation of departments, new job profiles and salary scheme for KEK (Kosovo Energy Corporation).
Egypt March 2003 - June 2003
Training needs assessment for the energy sector.
Proposal for a sector wide coordinated training program for the training centers in the energy sector. Workshop for training managers and the Power Plant Energy Training Management Unit (PPTMU)
Uganda July 2004 - September 2004
Development and implementation of three modules for teacher training (Module 1: My role as a teacher, Module 2: The students as target group of VET, Module 3: The teacher’s “toolbox” (General & CBT methodologies). Development of a training manual for Ugandan VET trainers
Bosnia-Herzegowina July 2005 - Juni 2006
Design and implementation of a management training program for the higher and middle management of Public Broadcasting Service entities (EU) (110 Manager).
Coaching for Top & Middle Management
China July 2005 - September 2006
Vocational Qualification and Employment Promotion in the Western Regions of China.
Design and implementation of a Train-the Trainer-Pilot project (Xian, Tongchuan & Yan'An)
China July 2006 - September 2006
Preparation and execution of a local labour market analysis for the Damxung county
(Lhasa, Tibet)
Egypt November 2006 - June 2019
It started with my first assignment as a team leader for the GIZ-Project "Management Training in the Water Sector. Following tenders were won and the final assignment (non-key expert) was within the EU-Water STARS project. In this time I build up a lot of friendships, lasting until today. In Egypt I started playing darts again and jointly promoted playing darts in Egypt.
Jordan April 2009 - March 2011
Parallel to my assignments (partially intermittent) in Egypt and Bosnia-Herzegowina, I was assigned as a team leader in Amman, Jordan. GIZ-Project: Establishment of a training management for the Jordanian water sector & Development of a guideline for “Modern and effective Human Resource Management” for the Jordanian water sector.
Bosnia-Herzegowina November 2010 - Juni 2012
Unexpectedly I received the information, that after provision of my CV for a key expert position, the consulting consortium won the EU-tender DELTER - TA Support to BiH to meet the requirements of the Energy Community Treaty with special focus on EE/RE. My task was related to capacity building measures for energy efficiency & renewable energy related to the EU Directives on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energies.
Kosovo October - November 2011
Meanwhile an independent state, I came back to Kosovo for a short-term assignment. I dealt with the development of a knowledge management system & feasibility analysis for a Wiki in the vocational training system (2 pilot TVET centres).
Namibia August 2019 - September 2020
In August I took over the vacant team leader position for the GIZ-Project "Promotion of Vocational Education and Training. This assignment provides me, especially under the Covid-19 implications, the great opportunity to apply all my experience with distance learning and the application of digital competences in nowadays disruptive and constantly changing world of learning. I used the time to extend my qualifications with additional certificates related to modern learning approaches.
France December 2020 - February 2022
Covid-19 time I spent in my European residence in Plazac, France.
Egypt March 2022 to December 2024
I was assigned during this time as team leader for two projects, namely "Promotion of Technical Vocational Education and Training” (KfW) and "Developing and establishing two Centres of Competence in the Agribusiness and Tourism/Hospitality sectors" (GIZ).
It was great to come back to Egypt and met a lot of friends again.
Other reasons for selected travels and living
France October 2016 - January 2018
In this period I decided to take a sabbatical and I lived in my secondary home in Plazac, France. I like living in the Perigord and it will be my place for retirement. The administrative name of the region is "valley of mankind" and one of my favourite philosophers, Michel de Montaigne, is coming from this region.
USA 2012 - 2018 several journeys
Initially I have visited Seattle and Miami South Beach, but later Chicago became my absolute favourite. Three times I travelled to the Chicago Blues Festival and the best place to listen to Blues music is Buddy Guy's Legends. Looking forward to my next trip to Chicago, then combined with a visit to New Orleans.
Norway 2010 & 2014
Florø, the most western town of Norway. Thanks to friends I travelled twice to Norway to attend the Salmon festival and the accompanying music festival. It was a great experience and by the next opportunity, I will travel again for the music festival.
