The training institute is a form of distance education centered on the spiritual and material progress of all members of a community. The three stages of the educational process include programs for 

• children (ages 5-11)
• junior youth (ages 12-14), 
• and youth/adults (ages 15+)

The purpose of participating in these programs is to develop the habits, skills, and abilities to serve the community.

“The main sequence of courses is organized so as to set the individual, whether Bahá’í or not, on a path being defined by the accumulating experience of the community… The very notion of a path is, itself, indicative of the nature and purpose of the courses, for a path invites participation, it beckons to new horizons, it demands effort and movement, it accommodates different paces and strides, it is structured and defined… And crucially, one walks the path in the company of others.” The Universal House of Justice, Dec. 12, 2011