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Naseej Academy had the pleasure of hosting the online webinar “Transforming Organizational Learning and Development to Innovative Practices” on October 28, 2020 in collaboration with Special Libraries Association-Arabian Gulf Chapter (SLA-AGC). We extend our deep appreciation to SLA-AGC’s president, Ms. Seham Kazem Al-Ostaz, for her fruitful, ongoing and long-established collaboration with Naseej Academy. 

The webinar proposed skills mastery and the competency-based learning (CBL) methodology utilizing emerging technologies as a sustainable model for the development of workforce skills, in place of the traditional one-size-fits-all approach. The webinar was presented by Dr. Mansour Kamel Mansour, President & Learning Technology and Innovation Strategist at Qurtuba Consulting Services, in the United States. Dr. Mansour has over 35 years of global experience and a demonstrated ability to design policies and reforms through strategic frameworks and stakeholder engagements, as well as to achieve strategic goals using innovative methodologies based on research, data and industry trends. He is constantly in pursuit of innovative and exciting ways to integrate technology in the learning environment utilizing competency- and scenario-based learning environments, micro-learning, gamification, agile principles and social learning.

The webinar was a resounding success and was attended by a sizeable and diverse group of CEOs, HR, training and development heads from various institutions, including libraries, as well as learning and development strategy consultants, and e-learning methodology designers and executives. The participants actively participated in the discussion, resulting in a very engaging session.  Dr. Mansour’s detailed presentation touched directly on the participants’ needs during the present COVID-19 crisis, which contributed greatly to the outstanding success of the webinar. 

In addressing new methodologies for mastering skills and CBL utilizing state-of-the-art learning technologies, Dr. Mansour explained how and why traditional learning and development methodologies often fail to meet companies’ needs, and cited the findings of recent surveys and research indicating the inadequacies of these traditional approaches. 

Dr. Mansour also discussed the essential elements of a practical approach that organizations might consider in ensuring an agile workforce. Those elements included: comparing the benefits of traditional learning and competency-based learning; instituting a technology framework and digital tools that support CBL; implementing the CBL model on digital learning platforms; adopting a sample e-portfolio assessment and verification process; and putting into effect a change management and knowledge transfer plan. Furthermore, Dr. Mansour advocated offering scientific proposals to institutions, including libraries, universities, vocational training colleges and companies, to assist them in building and applying the proposed strategies and approaches. In sharing with the audience the main features of an agile future e-learning platform, Dr. Mansour offered practical examples of relevant e-learning tools.

At the conclusion of the webinar, participants engaged in a spirited discussion with Dr. Mansour. The presenter’s knowledge and expertise, and the highly professional manner in which the webinar was conducted, inspired the participants to ask many pertinent questions, which Dr. Mansour was delighted to answer. 

Finally, Naseej Academy general supervisor, Prof. Dr. Abdallah Metwally, extended his deep thanks to Dr. Mansour for sharing, as an erudite scholar, the latest trends in the application of learning methodologies. Dr. Metwally also expressed his appreciation to Ms. Seham Kazem Al-Ostaz, and his pleasure in anticipating further collaborative efforts between Naseej Academy and SLA-AGC in the near future. He concluded his closing remarks by thanking all the attendees for their outstanding interactive participation through their questions and feedback.