- Online university concept aims to boost and sustain employees’ pursuit for personal and professional excellence

28 February 2007 – Global shipping, logistics and marine services company, GAC today launched its leading-edge online university, called the “GAC Corporate Academy” to offer new learning opportunities to all employees worldwide.

Participants will have the opportunity to enhance their work skills and fast track their professional development through courses that operate in an online environment. Whilst the Academy is currently exclusively for its employees, the company is already in discussion on opening its doors to partners, customers and other stakeholders wishing to benefit from state-of-the-art courses in the areas of shipping, logistics and marine.

Speaking at a media reception at the GAC Corporate Headquarters in Jebel Ali, Dubai, Group Vice President Jan Farnelid says: “The GCA will become a cornerstone of GAC’s human resource development strategy. What we have created in GCA is a platform where our people can develop the skills that are critical to their personal and professional growth. It will even help some discover their hidden talents.”

Fostering a brighter future
GCA’s General Manager Damien O’Donoghue says the Academy has been designed to harness the potential of talented GAC employees, giving them an opportunity to maximize their growth through harnessing the power of eLearning in cross-cultural settings.

”By encouraging our people to take a proactive interest in their own professional development, GCA is fostering a culture of lifelong learning. It’s a win-win situation that maximizes the talents of each individual and helps GAC achieve better business outcomes,” adds O’Donoghue.

Extensive programmes
GCA will offer programmes in Leadership Development, Professional Development and a unique GAC Professional Induction programme for newcomers into the GAC world. Within the programme, participants will select a combination of courses best suited to their professional goals.

Damien says within the new learning organisation, participants will engage in meaningful and exciting work-based case studies and learning processes, undertaking real world business activities and problem solving. This will ensure their newfound knowledge is quickly and easily transferable to their current and future roles in GAC.

All GCA courses are facilitated by certified industry and professional specialists to ensure participants gain exposure to contemporary and emerging trends within and outside the GAC World.

No boundaries
Backed by the use of the latest technology, GCA operates its programmes through a sophisticated Learning Management System allowing participants to join a virtual classroom that eliminates constraints such as geographical location or budgets.

Damien says, “We will have an online community of GAC people stretching around the world joining forces to learn together. Not only will participants get the skills they need to develop their careers, they will interact with GAC colleagues world-wide, building connections and strengthening the GAC community.”