European Journal of Training and Development Studies Vol.4 No.3, pp.50-61, August 2017 ___Published by European Centre for Research Training and Development UK (www.eajournals.org) 50 ISSN 2057-5238(Print), ISSN 2057-5246(Online) INVESTIGATION OF THE VIEWS OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS ON THE NECESSITY OF THEIR PARTICIPATION IN TRAINING PROGRAMS Georgios Panagiotopoulos, Nektaria Anastasiou and Zoe Karanikola Technological Educational Institution of Western Greece ABSTRACT: This paper attempts to investigate the views of the administrative officials of the Municipality of Larissa on their participation in training programs relating to their competencies. In specific, it investigates whether they consider training necessary, the reasons why they choose to be trained and the issues in which they feel they need to be trained. The analysis of the findings highlights, first of all, the great need for training officials. The most important reasons are considered to be the acquisition of new knowledge and skills and the addressing of shortcomings, to allow them to solve problems of their daily working life. As regards the subjects covered by the training, they primarily select programs related to the organisation and administration of local government services and to the interpretation of the legislative framework. KEYWORDS: Local Self-Government, Administrative Officials, Training, Reasons, Subjects INTRODUCTION In recent years, in most countries of the world there has been a strong trend to decentralise the machinery of government and public administration. This trend is supported by the principles of modern management and the adoption of new Total Quality Management methods (Mihalopoulos, 2003). It concerns a new culture of public administration, based on the continuous effort to improve efficiency, benefits and services, while encouraging individual initiatives (Fazel, 2003; Boaden, 1999). Thus, local self-government is called upon to take on an increasing number of actions as regards the allocation of resources, responsibilities and public sector officials. According to the findings of a research in OECD member countries, local self-governments employ 60% of public sector officials (OECD, 2014). This means that they can play a major role in tackling administrative problems and in a country’s reorganisation. Given that an organisation’s most important asset is its staff, self-government should strengthen the knowledge and skills of its officials, transforming its services into learning organisations (Ramat & Pantazis, 2008; Boud, Cressey & Docherty, 2006). In the context of increasing its competitiveness, cost-efficiency and the effectiveness of its services, the Municipality of Larissa has paved the way for the cooperation and networking of local, national and international bodies dedicated to lifelong learning, aiming at supporting the local community. In 2017, the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning included Larissa in the sixteen (16) cities across the world to which it awarded the “Learning City” award for outstanding progress in promoting education and lifelong learning in local communities. In the light of the changes brought about for local government by the “Kallikratis” program, the Municipality of Larissa cooperates with various public and private institutions that plan and implement training programs, aiming at upgrading its human resources.