Minding International France, European Distributor of the global organisation dedicated to advancing the use of Dr Edward de Bono's Thinking Methods has the worldwide mission to train and certify a group of highly qualified in-house corporate and independent instructors in the art of teaching Dr de Bono's Methods.

The three Edward de Bono Methods courses in which instructors are currently being certified are the Six Thinking Hats®; Lateral Thinking Module 1, and Direct Attention Thinking Tools™ (DATT).

Those Instructors who have successfully completed the certification programmes are authorised to teach the course(s) to others, using the materials prepared by Dr de Bono. In all cases where Certified Instructors teach Dr de Bono's concepts to others, the use of his copyright materials published by APTT (de Bono Thinking Systems, Inc of Des Moines, USA) and distributed by Minding International France is required. Only Certified Instructors have access to these materials through the Distributor Network.

The Certification Process

Minding International France is entrusting selected Instructors with intellectual properties of great value and asking them to represent the creator of these properties, Dr Edward de Bono, in a way that will sustain the personal reputation, credibility, and authority he has established over 30 years of work in more than 50 countries around the world.

Therefore, the selection process requires proof of professional accomplishment, personal integrity and firm commitment, as well as adequate opportunity widely and effectively to disseminate the programme(s) for which the Instructor has gained accreditation. To meet this need, Minding International France has designed a certification system which will identify and develop only qualified Instructors.

The certification process includes these five initial steps:

1. After initial discussion to ensure understanding of requirements and targets, candidates for certification submit the enclosed application to Minding International France.

2. Selected candidates are sent Minding International France Train-the-Trainer registration details and a contract, together with details of the Train-the-Trainer programmes - your invitation to become a Certified Instructor in Edward de Bono's Thinking Methods.

3. Selected candidates who wish to proceed return the completed registration and signed contract, together with the required fee, to Minding International France by the deadline indicated.

3.1 Candidates for Six Thinking Hats are required to complete the de Bono On-Line course before attending Certification.

4. Selected candidates attend a Minding International Train-the-Trainer Seminar.

5. Successful Certified Instructors recruit participants and conduct their own de Bono Thinking Methods courses, using the required/appropriate participant manuals.

Before acceptance onto any of the Certification programmes, all applicants are asked to discuss with Minding International France their target training numbers for their first two years as accredited trainers, and corporate applicants to discuss and agree their implementation plans. Thereafter, each attendee who successfully completes certification will have access to all required course materials at the prevailing volume discounts. At the end of two years, those certified in-house corporate and independent Instructors who have remained active, (trained the agreed number of delegates) and have demonstrated competency, will have the opportunity to renew their certificate. Successful Certified Instructors will also have the opportunity to train and certify in subsequent Edward de Bono programmes, which will be made available from time to time. However, there will be no requirement for Instructors so to do.

Your application will be used to determine your eligibility for certification, and its prompt submission is therefore necessary to register for any certification training.

To date there are over 900 Instructors accredited worldwide. We hope you will soon be joining our international training network, and we look forward to hearing from you if you.

Summary of Certification Agreement
for CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS
of SIX THINKING HATS®, LATERAL THINKING and DATT™

On successful completion of any of the certification programmes, Instructors will receive accreditation to teach the course they have attended, either in their own or other organisations. The terms of the agreement will be as follows:

1. At the request of Applicant and contingent upon payment of stipulated fee and full attendance at each segment of one of Edward de Bono's Train-the-Trainer Seminars, Minding International France grants to Applicant the right to become a certified instructor of the course attended, for two years. Certification is renewable after two years upon evidence of successful performance.

2. Applicant is certifying with the intent to teach the chosen course to other members of his/her organisation (corporate) or to other organisations (in the case of independent instructors). Applicant understands that he or she is in no manner to be considered an employee or other agent of Minding International France nor of Dr Edward de Bono.

3. The only fee that Applicant will pay in order to become a certified instructor in the de Bono Methods for two years is the price assigned to the certification training.

4. Continued certification requires demonstration of training activity on an annual basis, using the official de Bono Manuals, in conjunction with target discussions with the Distributor.

5. This certification may not be sold or assigned by the Applicant.

6. The specific applicant who attends the Seminar is the only person certified to deliver the training. Each additional instructor must attend a Train-the-Trainer Seminar conducted by Dr de Bono or his appointed substitute. Certified Instructors are not qualified nor permitted to train other instructors to deliver the course.

7. All certified instructors are required to use the Instructor's Manual for all training courses and to furnish each individual trained with a Participant's Manual. Certified Instructors will also have purchasing access to additional materials which may be produced from time to time. Certified Instructors are able to buy the required Participant's Manuals at volume discounts.

8. Reproduction or transmittal of the de Bono course materials by any means constitutes an infringement of applicable copyright laws. Applicant agrees not to reproduce or transmit the materials without written permission from Minding International France.

9. The certification of a de Bono Instructor may be terminated immediately for cause upon thirty days written notice by either party as provided in this Agreement.

Upon acceptance for certification, participants will be asked to sign a contract which will require them to respect the above points.

Special Note:
This programme is designed for experienced corporate and independent trainers; therefore we shall not teach training techniques. We assume that participants are skilled in the training of others.