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How do GCA courses operate?

GCA courses are offered through two key mediums: eLearning courses and face-to-face workshops. The eLearning courses operate for one, two, four, five, or six weeks. Dates can be found on the GCA Course Schedule.

All GCA courses are highly interactive, and participants learn with colleagues from around the GAC World. Courses are strategically driven by certified and experienced facilitators. Subject matter experts from GAC are invited to the courses to help answer queries from the field and provide insights into the business.

Are any courses mandatory?

Yes – the following GAC New Employee Orientation (GAC NEO) courses are compulsory for all new joiners, ensuring they are equipped with the foundation knowledge to support their new role:

  1. Introduction to the GAC World (IGW)
  2. Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE)
  3. Compliance and Ethics (CNE)
  4. General Data Protection Regulation Awareness (GDPR)
  5. Cyber Security Awareness (CSA)

GAC NEO also allows operating companies to gauge the competency and attitude of new joiners. By looking at the performance of the individual in their foundation learning, line managers and GLOs can assess the potential of the employee in terms of their attitude and willingness to thrive in the GAC World.

How are participants assessed?

Because all GCA courses are competency-based, it is important that we are able to measure a participant’s mastery of a particular subject area. Each course is different, but assessment will typically be based on a combination of the following methods:

  • Online quiz
  • Participation in discussion forums
  • Individual projects
  • Case Studies
  • Work-based projects

Participants who do not meet the requirements within the first weeks of the course are graded as “Incomplete” and invited to reapply in the subsequent launch. The GCA’s Escalation, Course Removal, and Re-Enrolment Policy provides more information.

A participant’s mastery of the course will be assessed as an aggregate percentage. An outcome of less than 70% will be deemed as an Incomplete Grade.

A participant who successfully completes a course is awarded a certificate.

How do GAC Operating Companies support participation in GCA?

1. In-Company GCA Liaison Officers (GLOs)

GCA Liaison Officers (GLOs) operate in most GAC companies to ensure optimum communication between GCA and participating companies. The GLOs play an essential role in the relationship between participating companies and GCA, including coordinating the learning and development programme for the year and supporting GCA course participants. Being local, the GLOs can respond quickly to specific inquiries and company needs.

2. Dedicated GCA Learning Environments

Dedicated workstations with high-speed internet access create good learning environments, allow participants to undertake learning away from their work, and promote optimal concentration and learning productivity.

Are GCA courses explicitly designed for GAC?

The majority of GCA’s courses are designed by GAC and for GAC. Many courses have a senior management representative as the ‘Course Ambassador.’ They work with the GCA Instructional Designers to develop a course that meets their desired learning objectives. They remain involved by actively promoting the course to the relevant participants.

This approach can ensure that GCA courses are always relevant and directly aligned with GAC's strategic objectives. It also means that all of the courses are directly demand-driven and outcome-oriented.

Additionally, courses are reviewed regularly to ensure that resources and activities are up-to-date and continue to meet the stated learning objectives.

How much time does each course take?

Most GCA eLearning courses require approximately five hours per week. The GAC Group Management expects all GAC employees to have sufficient time to complete the core requirements of each course within working hours. To establish higher results, participants are encouraged to complete all activities fully, and additional personal time may be required outside of working hours.

Recently, GCA also introduced some shorter ‘bite-size’ courses that, depending on the content, can be completed within hours or a few days.

Is there a cost?

As per the guidelines set by GAC Corporate HQ and the GCA Management, GCA is a cost-recovery centre of GAC.

While there is no direct cost to participants, companies pay a course fee for each course position filled.

These contributions/investments take into account the prevailing market conditions of each relevant country. GCA's stated intention is to ensure that all costs are extremely competitive with commercial learning providers, promoting maximum participation rates in our Corporate Academy irrespective of geographical and financial boundaries.

How are places allocated?

GCA courses are in high demand, so places are allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you are interested in attending a particular course, please contact your local GCA Liaison Officer (GLOs) or GCA directly. A nomination file with mandatory information is sent to GCA. Please consult your GLO regarding the local approval process.

Do I need to visit the Academy physically?

The majority of GCA courses are conducted through our state-of-the-art learning management system, GAClearn, which brings people together from all across the GAC World to participate in a wide range of courses.

However, a number of our courses are conducted in a workshop format and are offered in regional centres or in-country. Please check our website for full course descriptions and updated schedules.

Why are our courses conducted online?

eLearning is the most efficient means of delivering education and training to a widely dispersed workforce throughout the GAC World.

  • eLearning allows participants to learn alongside their regular daily work, ensuring learning is practical and implemented directly from week to week.
  • The technology required is already in place at all sites.
  • Participants learn the course content and become more familiar with modern communication tools, an essential requirement for today’s workforce.
  • eLearning fosters the establishment of global communities of professional practice in the GAC World.
  • eLearning makes learning and development possible for all GAC people at an affordable rate rather than the need for travel expenses.
What does eLearning involve?

Essentially, the entire course is conducted through GAClearn – a GAC Corporate Academy virtual campus.

Participants access this through a computer with internet access. All course materials are available online, and a course facilitator will post online feedback and provide one-on-one support when required. You can join online forum discussions to discuss vital concepts and course ideas with other participants.

Can anyone undertake eLearning?

No particular skills are required, but being comfortable with computers and the Internet is an advantage. The following checklist may help determine your suitability for our online courses:

  • Your computer meets the basic technology requirements (check with your in-company IT support if in doubt)
  • You can use applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to produce assignments
  • You can check your email regularly
  • You can download and use files and software
  • You are willing to enter into online discussions with other participants
  • You can work independently
  • You can manage your time efficiently
Why do some courses have prerequisites?

Certain courses must be completed before others to promote the most optimal learning pathway. Specialist and business-specific courses presuppose participants have a certain degree of knowledge about GAC operations.

Why should I do a GCA course rather than undertake external training?

GCA is GAC’s own Corporate Academy, so its courses are the most relevant and cost-effective learning method available to GAC people. External courses are often open-source and developed for a wide range of business needs. As a result, their alignment with GAC’s specific business can be limited. GAC people develop GCA courses so that GAC people can meet GAC’s specific business outcomes.