XpertLearning has a very successful first-ever NetDimensions User Day event

Dubai, Moevenpick Hotel, June 02, 2010. XpertLearning, the leading provider of e-Learning solutions in the Middle East, held its first-ever NetDimensions User Day event. This event was a first of its kind within the Middle East region and was held in collaboration with NetDimensions, global enterprise solutions provider of performance, knowledge and learning management systems.

The event started off with a welcome note and an overview of the day’s agenda from Paul Michael Gledhill, Director and Co-Founder of XpertLearning. John Quinn, ‘Presentologist’ and General Manager of Satellite Visual Communication, followed up and introduced the audience to the Interactive Audio Response System & Electronic Voting System, which was going to be used by the audience to respond to questions posted by the presenters during the day.

The audience was then introduced to the NetDimensions’ representatives, Steve Curtis, Channel Manager EMEA, and Rory Stewart, Consultant EMEA. Steve Curtis provided an overview of NetDimensions along with some key product updates. The focus of the event, however, was on NetDimensions’ key product offering, namely the Enterprise Knowledge Platform (EKP). Steve was also involved in some other key presentations during the day, including a session with Clayton Marshall D’Souza, Technical Manager and Riham Khoury, Head of Academia at XpertLearning, on how clients can move from EKP Bronze to EKP Gold and the benefits that such an upgrade will bring to them.

Rory Stewart introduced the audience to NetDimensions’ latest product, the Mobile EKP (mEKP), which is an end-user version of the Enterprise Knowledge Platform (EKP) and which runs independently from a USB flash drive without any required installation or Internet connection. Rory also demonstrated how mEKP enables users to review course materials, run courses, take exams and review documents, as well as review exam and training history information from any computer with a USB port at their convenience anywhere, anytime.

Case studies were presented by representatives of XpertLearning’s key clients. Robert Saint-Jacques, Human Resource Director at twofour54, kicked off the case study series. He was followed by Rachel Devereux-Douglas, Learning & Development Manager at Supreme Group, Ali Zaheer, Training Officer and Haitham Kamal Abdulkarim, Contact Centre Team Leader, both from Emaar. The case study series was wrapped up with a presentation from Maggie Williams, Management Trainer and Tariq Manzoor, Learning and Development Administrator, both from ENOC. The case studies focused on the core product offering of NetDimensions, the EKP, and how it helped these organizations (twofour54, Supreme Group, Emaar and ENOC) in managing their entire training and development process from delivering and tracking to testing and reporting.

Nabeel Nazeer, Technical Consultant at XpertLearning, wrapped up the presentation series with a session outlining the different marketing initiatives taken by the company. The company’s social media marketing initiative was introduced to the audience. Nabeel also explained how XpertLearning works hard to provide excellent customer service and support its customers on EKP from pre-sales to implementation and after-sales technical support.

The event concluded with a prize ceremony, chaired by Riham Khoury, in a truly classic Hollywood-Oscars-event-like fashion. Prizes were awarded for 3 categories, namely Best Dressed LMS, Best Overall EKP Implementation and Biggest Usage of EKP Functionality.

Through the use of the Interactive Audio Response System & Electronic Voting System and with background music taken straight from the ‘Pirates of the Carribean’ to set the Hollywood Oscars atmosphere, the audience voted for the Best Dressed LMS. Vodafone Qatar knocked everyone out and landed itself the most-coveted prize. The prize was collected by Asim Mirza, Operations Delivery Manager, and Alexandra Pascu, Lead Trainer, both from Vodafone Qatar.

Emaar, represented by Ali Zaheer, bagged the prize for Best Overall EKP Implementation. DEPA won the prize for Biggest Usage of EKP Functionality. Stefanie Heidester, in charge of Internal Communication and Knowledge Management at DEPA, collected the prize from Janine Croft, Managing Director at XpertLearning.

All in all, it was a great first XpertLearning – NetDimensions User Day event. The XpertLearning team thanks everyone for attending and participating in this event. We look forward to welcoming you next year!

Xpert Learning hosts its first-ever 5@Ten session

Dubai, April 29, 2010. At its head office in Knowledge Village, Dubai, Xpert Learning held its first 5@Ten session, which brought together key professionals and executives within the Learning & Development arena, from high-profile companies across the Middle East. The objective of this initiative was to bring together thought-leaders within the industry in one room, on a roundtable, with an open agenda, allowing them to share anything they want to, on any topic, with or without any relation to learning or e-Learning. This first 5@Ten session was attended by the following key individuals:

• Patricio G. Porras (Chief Learning Officer, Axiom Telecom)
• Ali Zaheer (Training Officer, Emaar)
• DharamVeer Sood (Assistant Manager, Rivoli Group)
• Lara Gibbs (Training & Development Manager, FlyDubai)

The session was chaired by Paul Michael Gledhill, Director and Co-Founder of Xpert Learning, and facilitated by David Hastings, new e-Learning Account Manager at Xpert Learning.

Paul kicked off the session by introducing the attendees and laying out the purpose of the session. To break the ice, he started the discussion on an informal note by narrating a recent story of “extreme learning”.

Paul’s story led Patricio Porras to outline a few of his achievements, on a more formal note. Patricio talked about the induction process at Axiom Telecom. He mentioned that 80% of his time was invested in the induction process which turned out to be very successful. “Companies traditionally recruit when a position becomes vacant. This is a bad policy. Our new induction process aims to break this tradition. Once new recruits pass and get certified, what we do after the first 90 days of induction is my new focus at the moment”, said Patricio. “This is the year of people development!”, further added Patricio, who is currently hiring about 20 employees per month. His current induction cycle is: 1st and 2nd day, everyone attends a broad spectrum induction at head office, 3rd day in the market place, 4th and 5th day are sales, product knowledge, process. Quizzes and evaluations come after the 4th and 5th day, following which there is a department induction and then a personal induction.

Following Patricio’s account, Ali Zaheer picked up on the discussions by sharing with the audience how online assessments are conducted at Emaar. “These tests save costs and time”, declared Ali. Visibly a few steps ahead of everyone else, Ali explained that Emaar uses online video key messages from senior management to encourage staff to use the eLearning Portal. According to Ali, this scenario has been properly tried and tested and works well for Emaar. Ali went on further to explain that they have created online policy and procedures instead of paper using rapid conversion tools. With the addition of visuals and voice-overs, these have become more interactive and effective.

Lara Gibbs contributed to the discussion by asking about the problem of missing the personal touch during the induction process. This led to further discussions amongst the attendees.

On a slightly different note, DharamVeer Sood followed up by giving his account on how induction to e-Learning happens at Rivoli Group. “We made the learners at Rivoli aware of the financial implications involved in e-learning and they appreciated that the organization was investing in its people even during these times”, declared DharamVeer. According to him, e-Learning keeps people engaged. He attributes the success of the e-Learning initiative at Rivoli Group to the shortened induction period, pilot evaluations and giving people the flexibility to opt out if they do not want to participate. DharamVeer added that he monitors the progress of the learners by running reports regularly and setting the pass mark at a high score to ensure that the learners knew their materials.

After more than an hour of discussions and interactive engagement, Paul wrapped up the session.

Following this successful session, with microphone in hand and in a truly journalistic style, Nabeel Nazeer, Technical Consultant at Xpert Learning, requested for feedback from the attendees.

David Hastings, who recently joined Xpert Learning and was invited to facilitate the session, was very impressed by the multiple topics of discussions which arose within a session which had no agenda at all. “Having joined 5@Ten as part of my induction into the world of e-Learning, I would say that if I had any lingering doubt or anxiety about joining Xpert Learning, it was washed away by listening to the thoughts of major players in today's session,” said David. 

Lara Gibbs

As L&D professionals, often we spend our days, eyes and ears focused on the day- to-day of making training/learning & development happen without taking time out to develop ourselves – 5@Ten was a great opportunity for me to share best practices and learn from my peers in various industries - Thank you Xpert Learning for including me in this inaugural endeavor and for giving back as you always do, I look forward to participating in subsequent sessions.

Ali Zaheer

It’s a great initiative! No Doubt! I think that sessions like these will bring companies (who have implemented e-Learning solutions) closer and share their strategies. Great work Xpert Learning!

Patricio G. Porras

Thank you Xpert Learning. Really enjoyed the discussion and looking forward to the next invite.

Paul Michael Gledhill

I found the session very flowing, engaging and enjoyable. It was a breeze! I can’t wait to chair the next one.

We, at Xpert Learning, are now looking forward to the next 5@Ten session which will happen on the last Thursday of next month, 27th May 2010. Please contact us at info@xpertlearning.com or call +971 4 3910503 for more information if you want to be part of this interactive and fun-filled session.