Training Magazine Middle East October 2014 | Page 18

Although they are likely to be well educated, often having attended University in the USA and Europe, they will lack experience.

The quality of training they receive early on in their career will be paramount to the success of the event.

Training for Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China, began 4 years prior to the event, which attracted 73 million visitors.

Mr Makimura, the Chief Advisor to the Shanghai World Expo Human Resources Development Center, said that the pivotal factors for the successful operation and management of the World Expo in Shanghai could “only be achieved via the intensified training for the organizers and service providers.”

Six years before the event, the Shanghai World Expo Human Resources Development Center rolled out a HR training program for 400 high level executives.

The training the top executives received was implemented throughout their own organizations.

In addition, the 1.7 million volunteers assisting the day-to-day running of the event, received training via E-learning over a two year period.

The Expo theme, “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” can be used to not only describe the event, but also the training that companies and organizations will need to provide tp existing employees and new recruits to ensure Expo 2020 lives up to Vice President and Prime Minster of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s promise that Dubai will “astonish the world”.

TRAINING &

TECHNOLOGY

Technology Based Training is a rapidly growing market. In the Middle East, organizations have taken a skeptical approach to implementing Technology Based Training. Middle East based companies have a tendency to first watch the impact of eLearning implementation in Europe and the US before implementing the same technology based training model here.

This is starting to change, self-paced eLearning in the Middle East is growing at a rate of 8.2% and its revenues are expected to reach $560.7 million by 2016 (eLearning Industry, 2014).

Technology Based Training includes eLearning, mobile learning, gamification and video-conferencing. These methods of learning teach self-discipline, problem solving, critical thinking, new learning skills, self-motivation, it encourages creativity and for many it brings the enjoyment back into learning

Today, over 41.7% percent of global Fortune 500 companies now use some form of educational technology to instruct employees during formal learning hours. This includes IBM who have embraced blended learning (combining technology approaches to learning with more traditional classroom based learning) in order to deliver their Basic Blue leadership development program, which trains managers worldwide. Upon completion of the eLearning training segment, employees receive 5 days of classroom training (

By incorporating blended learning you can reap the advantages of both classroom teaching and e-learning.

eLearning provides a cost effective way to keep employees up-to-date with new regulations (Tischell, 2002) and can be used for technical certifications, monitoring professional competence and training, e.g. training new recruits, leadership training, technical skills training etc. Furthermore, there is a 50% potential productivity boost from using eLearning as a teaching method.

Why is this an important topic?

E-Learning provides a fresh approach to training with new opportunities for learners, it removes barriers to learning, provides easy to access training for upskilling employees and can be individualized to each learner.

Nearly 25% of all employees leave their job because there simply aren't enough training or learning opportunities. On the other hand, companies who do offer e-Learning and on-the-job training generate about 26% more revenue per employee.

72% of companies stated that E-Learning helps them to keep up-to-date with changes in their industry, which helps them to remain competitive within their niche (Aurion Learning, 2014).

Technology for recruitment

The most predominant use of technology for recruitment is Social Recruiting. Allison Boyle, employment expert at about.com, defines Social Recruiting as companies and recruiters using Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and other social media sites to source and recruit candidates for employment.

THE TECHNOLOGY APPROACH TO TRAINING

BY EVA KHAN