Aspen Policy Academy

Train the Trainer Short Courses

Our Train the Trainer short courses are paid, week-long virtual short courses to train experienced policy professionals to teach our methods for policy impact.


Find out more about upcoming Train the Trainer courses below:

There are no Train the Trainer courses available right now. Join our mailing list to be notified of upcoming sessions!


Subject matter experts in science, technology, cybersecurity, or a related field with 3 or more years of policy experience and an interest in training others on how to have policy impact are encouraged to apply. Selected trainers will be paid a $2,000 honoraria for each program in which they enroll. The top graduates will also be invited to serve as future trainers in our teaching programs at a rate of $100/hr.

We hosted a webinar in March 2023, giving an overview of the program and answering questions from potential applicants. You can view a recording of that webinar here.

The Curriculum

Our Train the Trainer short courses consist of two parts: 1) student learning, in which trainers learn the material as students; and 2) teacher learning, in which trainers learn how to teach the materials.

In the Policy Impact course, trainers will learn how to teach participants a clear path to achieving policy impact through steps such as:

  • Defining and researching policy problems
  • Stakeholder mapping
  • Scoping solutions
  • Evaluating alternatives
  • Building effective outputs for your stakeholders
  • Advocacy

In the Writing and Communicating for Policy course, trainers will learn how to improve participants’ communication skills through sessions such as:

  • Translating technical concepts into plain language
  • Writing for policy
  • Argumentative writing
  • Writing effective policy memos
  • Writing a public comment
  • Briefing stakeholders
  • Public speaking
  • Media training

Are you a policy expert? Find out how to get involved with us!