ONGC takes the eLearning route towards upgradation

Concerned by the growing attrition rate and the need to be strategically well placed for maintaining its competitive edge, the Oil & Natural Gas Corporation India Ltd (ONGC) launched eAcademy to provide its employees with opportunities for self development and a range of oil & gas related e-learning products. Christened Gyandhara, it has been built, and is being implemented and managed by 24x7 Learning.

Ms. Priti Mathur, Head - ONGC Academy, ONGC, informed that the corporation spends around Rs 30 crore on training alone. Gyandhara the new venture which earmarked Rs 2 crore initially will be able to reach its employees in the remotest of places and they can undertake training and get re-trained from their own place of work at their own convenient pace and time and within their own time frame.

“We have a workforce of 38,000 and the HR has been focussing on upgrading employees through training. Since many people have been leaving ONGC we hope this venture will help in reversing the trend. Benchmarked to global standards, Gyandhara will provide its employees with opportunities for self development and learning. Oil and gas are expensive and we need to be the best. We are working with IIT, IIM and other faculties from the US and UK and have now partnered OPITO, the renowned oil and gas academy and Atlas Interactive Limited, the oil and gas industry’s eLearning content specialists to bring to India this complete learning solution for the oil and gas Industry. 24x7 Learning would provide OPITO certifications post completion of the course to all ONGC employees.”
Speaking on the partnership, Karthik KS, CEO - 24x7 Learning, gave a presentation on the versatility of the programme which facilitates members of staff to start doing the course from their work stations and receive the certification. He also highlighted the various advantages and the aspects of this powerful medium of learning and the global players who would benefit from it.
He said, “We are delighted to be associated with Atlas Interactive and OPITO, this alliance brings to the table the expertise of two international organizations excelling in their respective fields. Through this partnership we will provide holistic solutions to the oil and gas industry. We are also extremely happy to associate with ONGC, India, and ensure a consistent and high standard of training to its employees.”
Simulations can take learning beyond the possible – into realms that can never be accessed through regular training he explained. It can be visualized in an instructor-led classroom-based training setting. However e-learning, can show the animated action of the robotic arms and all such activities that are beyond the reach of the learner. e-Learning includes the use of a variety of media and techniques for learning, including text, sound, graphics, photography, animation, video, e-mail, discussion forums, chat rooms, virtual meetings or tutorials, and simulations.
Companies in the oil and gas sector are rapidly embracing e-learning as an integral part of their training initiatives. The reason for this lies in the benefit it offers to their staff and their bottom line. Considering the issues faced by oil and gas companies in working offshore and meeting the demands of health and safety, e-learning benefits are pertinent to meeting their critical organizational needs.
Employees of oil and gas companies require a large amount of learning material. This learning cannot be defined within the narrow parameters of a few courses. They have to be wide and should encompass a wide range of professional and personal development.
For example, employees are typically situated in several levels of the hierarchy. When a General Manager wants to learn about the nuances of making an effective presentation, he/she faces a dilemma. He/she cannot go to a presentation expert in the Public Relations department and seek his/her help as this would entail a 'loss of professional competence’. This General Manager can then go to a secure system and demand a learning course on 'making presentations' – in complete confidentiality.
The system has proved to be an easy-to-use tool that gives employees and managers the ability to plan and track competency-development activities. The primary training initiatives focus on exploration and production, drilling operations and maintenance, safety and environmental concerns, technical skills for engineering and geology professionals.
Mr. David Doig, CEO, OPITO commented that we learn from our mistakes but the smart person learns from somebody else’s mistakes. Drawing attention to one of the world’s worst disasters in the oil and gas field he gave graphic details about the 167 people who perished. The investigation indicated the huge number of preventable errors that had been committed, most of which were human in nature.
“Nobody does what we do for the oil and gas sector,” he stated. “We add value to employers’ efforts and investments. We know the standards and what needs to be done and we deal with only the higher level of employers.”
Talking on the collaboration Mr. Doig said, “We are very happy to partner with 24x7 Learning, India’s premier Talent Lifecycle Management Company. Our partnership offers exciting solutions for talent development in the Indian Oil and Gas Industry.”
Tim Love, Sr. VP-GSM, Atlas Interactive Limited, said, “Aimed at addressing the shortage of skills within the oil industry, the learning module from 24x7 Learning will enable both new recruits and experienced technicians to acquire approved qualifications, and it will assist employers to assess the skills and capabilities of their workforce within an accepted accreditation system. This is a brilliant initiative that we have in partnership with 24x7 Learning and we look forward to working closely in the coming years to develop this suit of learning modules for technicians of all ages within the industry.”
24x7 Learning is India’s premier Talent Lifecycle Management Company that delivers end-to-end learning solutions. From inception in 2001, they have evolved with changing market needs. The equity from Network 18 is testimony to their robust growth and sustained financial performance.
Headquartered in Bangalore, 24x7 Learning has regional offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Pune. Some of 24x7 Learning’s marquee clients include: The Aditya Birla Group, Accenture, Samsung, Essar, Mahindra and Mahindra, Murugappa Group, Larsen and Toubro, Barclays Bank, MindTree, Dell, Satyam and Pepsico. (www.24x7learning.com)
Recognized as one of the 50 fastest growing companies in India by Deloitte 24x7 Learning is the largest e-Learning implementation company in India with users in more than 25 countries across the world. It has provided learning solutions to over a million learners since its inception in 2001. The company was awarded the Red Herring 100 Asia award in 2006 and is the winner of the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 India 2007 and the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Asia. 24x7 Learning is amongst the NASSCOM Top 100 IT Innovators of 2007 and today it serves 7 of top 10 IT outsourcing companies and 6 of top 10 BPO/ITES companies in India.

e-learning in the Oil and Gas sector in India is in its infancy. Given the fact that India is one of the fastest growing oil economies in the world where billions of dollars are being pumped in the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors, cutting-edge training was so far grossly neglected. 24x7 Learning will help reduce training costs and assist in building a knowledge-based workplace.