The uniqueness of the Conectando Saberes Academy is manifested in its holistic, co-creative and hybrid approach, marking a clear difference with previous projects. Collaboration at the national level ensured the inclusion of diverse perspectives, while the support of the Public Innovation Lab of the Catholic University of Chile provided advanced design methodologies. This project represents a paradigm shift in the approach to lifelong learning within the state. Contrary to traditional approaches, it establishes a robust but flexible curriculum that allows, through distance learning and spaces for reflection and mentoring, to combine the best teaching-learning methodologies for adult education. This diversity of methods guarantees a more complete training adapted to the complexities of working with vulnerable children, consolidating the Academy as an innovative reference in the sector.

The Conectando Saberes Academy was enriched with the comprehensive participation of all state bodies linked to the promotion and protection of children's rights, involving representatives from academia, private companies, training centres, international organisations, and taking into account the results of the participation processes of children and adolescents and their families. It worked closely with the teams in the field and with representatives of their unions.

Direct users are the people working in the Specialised Protection Service programmes. Stakeholders include government institutions such as the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labour, and civil society organisations such as SOS Children's Villages. All benefited from specialised training, thus improving the quality of the intervention.

In its pilot implementation, qualitative evaluations were carried out with the teams participating in the training programmes, who have qualitatively reported the positive effect of the new training model on their individual and team competencies. The coverage of the Academy reached 10,000 people with the optional training and 260 people with the training in the model. Although quantitative results on impact are not available, there are plans to develop measurement mechanisms and staff competencies are expected to be strengthened. Future impact focuses on the transformation of the work-based approach towards education centred on children's well-being.

Innovation faces significant challenges, such as cultural change and change management in an institution with pre-existing conditions and staff. Encouraging staff to embrace change is crucial. In addition, the negative perception of the previous system is an obstacle, although the Academy represents a piece of good news. Overcoming digital divides, ensuring in-service training, and training and supporting trainers and mentors from within the protection system itself are challenges addressed through communication strategies, collaboration with management, and designing incentives for participants and recognition of trainers.

• Methodological Rigour: Success hinges on rigorous methods supported by validated processes.
• Inclusiveness: Training the entire ecosystem involved in specialised protection ensures inclusiveness.
• Policy Context Knowledge: Deep understanding of the policy context is crucial for effective implementation.
• Institutional Involvement: Including key institutional stakeholders from the beginning and giving them decision-making ownership is essential.
• Leadership: Strong, strategic, and recognizable leadership enhances the project’s institutional identity.
• Intrinsic Motivation: Given the nature of the work, intrinsic motivation is vital.
• Sustainability: Achieving sustainability requires a competent team and solid institutional support.
• Respect for Rights: Central to the Academy’s mission is the importance of children and adolescents and the respect for their rights.

The Conectando Saberes Academy has not yet been replicated, but there is clear potential for expansion. Its rigorous methodology, inclusive approach and strategic leadership can be adopted by other organisations, internal teams and government agencies.  The innovation could inspire other institutions to develop similar solutions to address challenges in child protection or other transformative areas.

Key lessons from our experience are:

• Inclusion from the start: Inviting all relevant stakeholders from the outset ensures genuine representation and engagement.
• Methodological rigour: Basing decisions on validated processes reinforces the soundness of the project.
• Strategic leadership: Strong leadership that recognises contributions is key to institutional consolidation and support.
• Commitment and meaning: The initiative must resonate with participants and be valued by them in order to be sustained over time.
• Collaboration and recognition: Valuing critical nodes and recognising their contribution drives participation and sustainability.
• Adaptability: Being flexible in the face of challenges and the ability to adjust strategies.

The Conectando Saberes Academy is at the forefront of a transformative shift in public policy regarding specialized protection. It operates within a service tasked with redefining and implementing new paradigms to provide guarantees to children and adolescents whose rights have been violated. The Academy’s innovation lies in its dual approach: not only does it drive effective change, but it also manages the expert knowledge necessary to make this change sustainable, cumulative, and scalable. This initiative targets approximately 30,000 workers and civil servants, all of whom must reach significant levels of expertise and performance to achieve these goals.