A Qatari engineer at Maersk Oil Qatar’s offshore facility. Maersk Oil’s Qatari Development Programme is open to employees early in their careers to nurture skills needed to develop outstanding workplace performance.
A group of Qatari employees at the country’s largest oil producer, Maersk Oil have completed the latest stage of a novel programme that aims to develop ‘the leaders of tomorrow’.
Maersk Oil’s Qatari Development Programme is open to employees early in their careers and bridges the gap between the academic environment of university and the skills needed to develop outstanding workplace performance.
Maersk Oil began the two-year development programme in November last year, as part of its “Revitalised Qatarisation Strategy”, which includes a commitment to quadruple the number of Qataris in leadership and senior specialist positions by 2017.
Maersk Oil Qatar deputy managing director Sheikh Faisal bin Fahad al-Thani said, “Qatarisation is a core business priority for Maersk Oil. We have made great strides in the past five years by doubling the number of Qatari employees and increasing those with a bachelor’s degree, but we are committed to attracting, developing and retaining even more Qatari leaders in the future. Schemes like the Qatari Development Programme will help us do just that.”
The Qatari Development Programme includes a mixture of formal modules, and what are known as action learning sets, where smaller groups meet to discuss workplace issues, typically around prioritisation, problem solving and managing workloads.
One of the programme’s participants, process engineer Aisha Ahmad al-Nuaimi, has welcomed the development of so-called softer skills.
She said: “As an engineer, this is something different - it gives us skills to develop the other side of our personality, leadership skills, and communication with our colleagues. While companies usually focus on technical training, the Qatari Development Programme is unique, and it shows how Maersk Oil Qatar is keen to develop employees.”
Joanna Rawbone, director, Scintillo – a specialist UK-based learning development company – is assisting Maersk Oil with the Qatari Development Programme.
She said, “The action learning sets encourage the fourteen participants to be more resourceful when it comes to problem solving, so instead of always looking to their manager, they can work through issues by themselves or with colleagues. This benefits them in their development as possible future leaders and also it ensures that Maersk Oil gains a skilled, enthusiastic and more diverse band of potential leaders who can propel the business forward.”
The Qatari Development Programme is rooted in an exhaustive 12-month study, which included a survey of employees and detailed mapping and analysis of best practice in Qatar and abroad.
Maersk Oil Qatar head (Qatarisation) Sheikh Jassim al-Thani said, “The two-year Qatari Development Programme is a large investment by Maersk Oil in young Qataris, but it is clearly paying off. The programme is a key pillar of our Qatarisation strategy; we found that the first two years of employment was a critical period to develop Qatari employees and set career paths. Ultimately, we want to provide faster, more-structured career development.”
Another Qatari participant, Hussam al-Qatouni said: “As an engineer, I think this programme will help my development, as it takes me from the technical side to the day-to-day aspect. If anyone thinks that their degree without skills in other areas will guarantee their development, I think this is wrong. We need to gain skills on how to manage our time, internal communications with our colleagues and managers, as well as other important areas.”