AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- Wyvern University (WU) is an extracurricular education program that offers a wide variety of courses for professional and personal development.
The classes offered at WU are available to the entire Aviano AB community, regardless of their status.
“Whether service members, civilians or local nationals, as long as they’re 14 and up, we are here for them,” said Tech. Sgt. Adam Barb, 31st Force Support Squadron NCOIC of professional development. “This is the first Professional Development Center I’ve been to with such an extensive offering of courses people can benefit from.”
With over 170 courses to choose from, there is something for everyone. The courses cover topics that range from conflict resolution to computer programming, managing workplace anxiety or increasing personal happiness.
WU even has its own graduation process that becomes available to attendees after they have taken 31 courses. WU also offers six certificate courses in the following fields: human resource management, leadership and management, operational studies, self-improvement, supervisory leadership and innovation. A workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion certificate course is also currently in progress.
WU also has offerings for those interested in being a teacher rather than a student. If there is a subject one are passionate about teaching, then there is the potential for a new course.
“We're always looking for instructors,” said Barb. “If you want to help others and be involved in their development, or even improve your public speaking, this is a great way to do it.”
As opposed to primarily lecture-based learning, many courses involve a lot of dialogue and conversation between instructors and students. Sometimes the students discuss amongst themselves while instructors take on the role of facilitator, said Barb.
Alongside the professional development course offerings on such topics as communication strategies are personal development courses that can be taken to develop a new skill or even just due to personal interest. According to Barb, if you are curious about course offerings such as the basics of 3-D printing or DNA of Love, WU is there for you.
Classes are offered throughout the day, including lunch time. Since most classes are 50 minutes long, it is possible to sit it on a quick class with lunch even during the duty day. WU is now offering virtual classes via Zoom as well.
While there is no registration process and one must simply walk into the class they wish to attend, WU does use a signup site included in their weekly emails that is recommended to help gauge interest and potential class sizes.
“WU can help with career goals or just everyday life,” said Barb. “As instructors, we just want to give attendees skills or knowledge they can take to help them in their futures.”