Denmark-based conglomerate A.P.Moller-Maersk has outsourced the development of e-learning tools for its seafarers to Headstrong’s office in the Philippines as reported on September 10, 2007.Headstrong provides outsourced application and product development services. It operates global delivery centers in India and Manila, Philippines.
Raymond Lacdao, managing consultant for Headstrong Philippines, said Headstrong’s local team will develop the courseware that will be packaged into CDs and distributed to A.P.Moller-Maersk employees.The project will run for about a year and has a project cost of half a million dollars, Lacdao said.
A.P. Moller-Maersk has interests in shipping, energy and retail according to its website. It has approximately 110,000 employees in offices located in 130 countries.
“We realized that we have to approach e-learning in a systematic way, because it’s becoming more challenging to reach our dispersed audience and communicate the same message,” said Julie Nachtigal Broberg, A.P. Moller-Maersk general manager, Training and Development for Marine HR.
In a statement provided by Headstrong’s local office, Broberg said marine HR training requirements were previously delivered in its major training centers in Denmark, India and the UK, and other third-party training centers around the world.
But the company’s growth in recent years has made this educational infrastructure less viable, she said. After the courses have been developed, Maersk intends to deploy them to its ships.
Broberg added: “Depending on their contracts, seafarers typically sail for half a year, and then spend the other half at home. With the eLearning courses, their vacations don’t have to be as course-intensive. We are anticipating this to make a positive impact on our retention rate.”
