Qatargas recently held its 14th Annual CEO Forum for National Graduates and Trainees. The CEO Forum is an annual event during which Nationals who are part of Qatargas’ Training and Development Program meet with the Chief Executive Officer and participate in discussions regarding their individual development and the Company’s Qatarization program.
Held under the theme “Commitment to National Development”, the event, facilitated by the Company’s Learning and Development Department, was split into two sessions, one for graduates and the other for trainees.
Qatargas’ Chief Executive Officer, Khalid bin Khalifa Al-Thani hosted both events and engaged with the young Nationals. Addressing the Nationals, the CEO urged them to take ownership of their own development and career path. He encouraged them to develop their skills and take advantage of the opportunities provided to them in order to progress in their careers. The CEO also took the opportunity to wish the young Nationals all the best in their career journeys.
The Forum focused on the development of Qatargas’ national graduates and trainees, and provided updates on the Company’s Qatarization programme. It also provided participants the opportunity to share their experiences and highlight challenges they face. The feedback and suggestions provided will help further improve the training and development programs on offer.
A major achievement, in an effort to support National Graduates throughout their Individual Development Program (IDP), was the enhancement of the IDP Workflow System.
The Workflow Review and Approval Processes were redesigned to ensure improved process efficiency. Also, an “Intuitive User Interface” was introduced to optimize flexibility and user experience for building the IDP and its Progress Reviews.
Another initiative rolled out this year as a corporate Key Performance Indicator, was the standardization of the IDP for all target positions for National Graduates. This initiative will ensure availability and consistency of the IDPs to support our National Graduates with their development journey towards becoming fully qualified professionals.
For Trainees, an enhancement of the Technical Preparation Program (TPP) Workplace Learning (WPL) phase was made to shorten the probation period and introduce the inclusion of Individual Training Plan (ITP) tasks in a customized WPL tracking folder. The success of this initiative was extremely important in helping National Trainees transition to established positions as Rover Operators. Also, an initiative was made to review and enhance the technical and English language curriculum to support the National Trainees in attaining the required level of competence for their target roles.
The Forum also had motivational speeches by Qatari nationals who have excelled in their careers and progressed to key positions in the Company after completing their development programs. Reem Al-Harami, Human Resources Manager and Nasser Yahia Al-Naimi shared their success stories with the participants. There were also several group activities and presentations, including a safety awareness session on Qatargas’ “Life Saving Rules”.
At the end of the forums the graduates and trainees had the opportunity to ask any questions or raise concerns directly to the Chief Executive Officer.
The CEO presented awards to the best graduates and trainees for their outstanding performance in 2014. The coaches who excelled in training and mentoring the national employees were also recognized by the CEO.
As a key communications platform, the CEO Forum provides an opportunity for Qatari National graduates and trainees to engage in open discussion with the Company’s senior management and contribute to decision making, ensuring their active involvement in their own personal development. The CEO Forum at Qatargas reflects the commitment made by the Company’s senior management to its National workforce and helps forge a strong relationship between the young professionals and their coaches.
Qatargas is committed to develop, promote and recognize all of its employees. In particular, the Company is committed to the development of its Qatari workforce. Qatargas provides unique opportunities for young nationals to benefit from the knowledge and expertise of its high caliber diverse workforce and international shareholders.