Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Where does the program take place?

A. The program takes place on the campus of the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organisation (ITCILO) which is located in Turin, Italy, along the Po River. The ILO is a UN agency that works to promote decent work throughout the world. The ILO and the Italian Government established the International Training Centre in 1964 in Turin, Italy to assist countries in their social and economic development through learning and training. The ITCILO campus has training facilities, accommodations, cafeteria, restaurant, bar, tennis courts, soccer field, health clinic, post office, laundry, travel agency, and a social activities office.

ITCILO
Viale Maestri del Lavoro,10
10127 Turin, Italy
Telephone: +39-011-693 -6486 (6568)
Fax: +39- 011-693 – 6589

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Q. In what language will the program be held?

A. The 26th Annual Boulder Microfinance Training (MFT) will be in English.

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Q. How much does the program cost and what does the fee cover?

A. The tuition fee is 4,425 Euros. The tuition fee primarily covers courses, daily coffee breaks, inauguration and closing gala dinners, and some extracurricular activities.

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Q. What other costs will I need to cover?

A. In addition to the tuition fee, participants are responsible for other costs including travel to Turin and visa fees. The ITCILO offers full board and lodging for 1,445 Euros. You may also need pocket money for incidental expenses, excursions, and social activities, as well as any shopping in Turin.

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Q. Are discounts and financial assistance available for the program?

A. Boulder Institute does not directly offer scholarships or discounts to attend the program. Most participants, however, attend the program on a partial or full sponsorship that they secure themselves. We recommend that you talk to your employer, donor agencies working in your region, microfinance networks, and government institutions.

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Q. Who typically attends the program?

A. The Boulder Digital Transformation program is quite diverse in terms of regional representation, types of organizations, and experience level. Participants represent MFIs, Central Banks, Ministries of Finance, Donor Agencies, Commercial Banks, Investment Firms, Microfinance Support Institutions, Development Agencies, Universities, Consultancies, and more.

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Q. How do I register for the program?

A. In order to register for the program, you will need to complete an on-line registration form at ITC-ILO. To save your spot you can enter your data here.

We will make all efforts to communicate directly with those registered. For any additional questions or more details, please contact at ask@bouldermicrofinance.org

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Q. What is the program schedule?

A. This intensive training program will take place during two full weeks. Classes start at 8:30am and finish at 5:00pm each day. There will be two coffee breaks and a lunch period. Participants should plan for one to two hours of course preparation and reading each evening, as well as participation in at least three lunchtime round table discussions, panels, or networking meetings. After class and on weekends, there are several social and cultural activities planned for participants.

The program schedule is as follows:

  1. Morning Master Class (8:30am-10:00am), followed by 30-minute coffee break.
  2. Morning Elective Course (10:30am-1:00pm)
  3. Lunch and Lunchtime Special Topic Sessions (1:00pm-2:00pm
  4. Afternoon Elective Course (2:00pm – 5:00pm, 30-minute coffee break at 3:30pm)
  5. After Class Social, Cultural, Athletic Activities and Networking (After 5:45pm)

The Morning Master Class, led by Boulder Institute President, Robert Christen, lasts the full two weeks and involves many expert panelists and presenters, discussing different aspects of the Financial Inclusion landscape.

Morning and Afternoon Elective Courses are 4 days (Monday through Thursday). There are 12 elective courses to choose from. Participants will select a total of 4 elective courses prior to coming to the program. Each Friday, participants will be select another of the elective courses to attend a 2.5 hour condensed version.

For more information about the program design, click here.

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Q. How do I select my courses?

A. The on-line course selection will begin approximately 2 months before the program start date. We will send you an email with instructions before selection begins to everyone who has registered for the program. You will be able to see all of the course descriptions and there will be some guidance tools to help you select a set of courses that best fits your specific position and interests.

In order to be able to select your courses, you will need to have completed the registration process and submitted your registration fee. 

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Q. Is this program right for someone new to the Microfinance field?

A. If you are a professional with some experience in the field of banking, finance, or development, this is a good program to familiarize you with the foundations of Microfinance.

When you begin filling out the on-line course registration, you will receive some guidance on which courses best fit your experience, position, and interests. We are also happy to talk with you and help you figure out the best set of courses given your background. You can email us at ask@bouldermicrofinance.org

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Q. Is this program right for a student interested in Microfinance?

A. The majority of the participants in the program come with at least some field experience, and a large number of our participants have many years of experience, holding mid to high level positions in Microfinance Institutions, Commercial Banks, Central Banks, Government Institutions, Development Organizations, and Donor agencies. If you are a student with no field experience, this is probably not the right program for you. If you are a student who also has some practical field experience, there are courses that will give you a good foundation in the field of microfinance and this is a great opportunity to learn from expert faculty and from fellow participants who come from all over the world and bring a wide range of experience and perspective.

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Q. Is special food available for dietary restrictions (Halal, vegetarian, etc.)?

A. The ITCILO has a cafeteria with a wide array of food choices. Since the ITCILO is an organization that holds many international programs, they do try to offer food that meets the dietary restrictions of different cultures (i.e. vegetarian, halal, etc.).

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Q. How do I get my visa to travel to Italy?

A. The following website gives you some information about the countries that need a Schengen visa to travel to Italy: www.schengenvisainfo.com/who-needs-schengen-visa

If you are required to get a visa to enter Italy, you will need to contact your nearest Italian Consulate or Embassy and apply for a ‘Schengen Visa’. This process can take very long and therefore we strongly recommend you apply at least two months prior to the program in order to get your visa on time. In preparation for securing your visa, we encourage you to make sure that your passport is current and will not expire within 6 months of the program. It is also important that you know where the nearest Italian Consulate / Embassy is located.

Once you have submitted your tuition fees, the Participants’ Admissions and Travel Unit (visa department) at the ITCILO will provide you with special support.

The Embassy / Consulate may also provide you with additional instructions for obtaining your visa, and it is very important that you follow these instructions in a timely manner. For example, you might need to go to the Consulate and provide them with additional information or you may need to pick up your visa.

We encourage you to request information from the Italian Embassy / Consulate to understand the process and the documents that will be required.

Please feel free to contact us at boulder@itcilo.org if you have any questions or are concerned about your visa process!

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Q. What are the health requirements for traveling to Italy?

A. The following links provide you with health information related to traveling to Italy and Western Europe. We highly recommend that you get travel insurance to cover your travel to and from Italy. During your time in the program, you will have health coverage through the ITCILO. If you get sick during your stay, you will be able to go to the on-campus health center to see one of the doctors, and they will provide you with the necessary medical attention.

It is VERY IMPORTANT to note that you must be in good health before coming to the program. If you are sick before coming to the program, you must be seen by a medical provider to make sure that you are cleared to travel both for the sake of your health and the other participants in the program. Here are some helpful links regarding health and travel in Italy:

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/italy.aspx

http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/129/health/Europe/Italy.html

http://www.traveldocs.com/it/health.htm

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Q. What tourist activities can I do while I’m in Italy?

A. Turin is located in Northern Italy in the Piedmont region surrounded by the Alps. You can find more information on the cultural attractions in this region by going to the Turin tourism site.

There are several social and cultural activities planned throughout the two weeks of the program, on the weekends and during the evenings. On weekends, there are day excursions planned to nearby attractions such as Venice, Florence, Geneva, Rome, Nice, Monte Carlo, Lake Como, and Lake Maggiore. During the evenings, there are music and dance nights, tours of the city, shopping trips, exercise classes, and more. Some of these activities are free and some of them are paid. On the campus, there is a soccer field, tennis courts, and a ping pong table which participants can use. You can also rent bicycles to ride along the trail next to the Po River.

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Q. What are the recommendations for traveling to Italy?

A. We recommend that you purchase your airplane ticket early since many people travel to Europe during the summer months; especially this year due to the start of the Paris Olympic Games that coincide with the end of our program.

You are also much more likely to find lower prices and more direct flights. It is most convenient to fly into the Turin airport. Airport pick-ups from Turin airport to the ITCILO campus are included in the ITCILO full boarding and accommodation package. However, you also have the option of flying into Milan Malpensa airport which is about 2 hours away from Turin. There are regular airport shuttle buses between Milan Malpensa Airport and Turin city centre at the cost of 22 Euros.

If you are arriving during the weekend, we recommend that you bring Euros from your country with you into Italy, downtown currency exchange offices are closed on weekends. Alternatively, you can use the currency exchange services at the airport upon your arrival.

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Q. What clothing should I bring for the program?

A. July and August are the hottest months in Turin with temperatures ranging from about 18°C (65°F) at night to up to around 29°C (85°F) during the day. You should bring clothes appropriate for hot weather but also be aware that the training rooms have air conditioning and therefore can get a little chilly at times. During the past few years, there have been occasional heavy rain storms during these months and therefore it’s advisable to bring rain gear including an umbrella and rain jacket.

For most of the program, you are free to dress casually, in clothing that is comfortable to you. There are a few special events where you will want to wear more formal attire including the opening ceremony and closing graduation dinner. For the photo day, when we take a photo of all the participants together, we have a special 25-year history of participants wearing the traditional dress from their country. We hope that you will share your traditional dress with us.

We recommend you bring some athletic attire as there is a soccer field, volleyball nets, tennis courts, bicycles, exercise classes, gym facilities, and other sports activities that take place, as well as a nice running and biking trail, and a swimming pool fairly nearby.

There is a laundry service on the ITCILO campus where you can bring your clothing. This service takes two business days.

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Q. Is there any other special information I should know for the program?

A. We advise that you do not plan on sending back large items to your country as they are difficult to ship and it detracts from focusing on the program.

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Q. Who can I contact to learn more about the program?

A. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at ask@bouldermicrofinance.org

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