Maersk Oil Qatar has launched its two year development programme for Qatari locals and a group of 14 Qatari employees have joined the programme’s first workshop. The Qatari Development Programme is designed to provide employees in the early stages of their career with structured support through workshop modules and action learning sessions.
The programme focusses on the attributes of successful managers – with sessions covering time and people management, group dynamics, strategic planning and financial management.
“We have doubled the number of Qataris at Maersk Oil in the past five years and seen a 23% increase in those with Bachelor degrees but the Qatari Development Programme, along with our Find Your Place recruitment campaign and more broadly our new Qatarisation Strategy, are signs that we are committed to doing even better. As Qatar’s largest offshore oil operator of one of the most complex fields in the world we want the best and the brightest talent. We are committed to attracting, retaining and developing more Qataris and also to quadrupling the number of Qataris in leadership positions by 2017,” said Sheikh Faisal Al-Thani, Maersk Oil Qatar’s deputy managing director.
The opportunity for a Qatari Development Programme was identified during a 12 month study by Maersk Oil Qatar that included a survey of employees, detailed mapping and analysis of best practise in Qatar and abroad and external scrutiny by experts on localisation schemes. The study found the first two years was a critical period to develop national employees and provide clear pathways for career progression.
Joanna Rawbone, Director of Scintillo – a specialist learning and development company from the UK – is assisting Maersk Oil Qatar with the Qatari Development Programme.
“This is a cutting edge development programme that will support Qatari national employees to progress their careers and become well-rounded managers. It is rare to see such a structured programme last for two years. The programme itself is designed to benefit the culture of Maersk Oil, but also the wider Qatari community. It’s unique for such a programme to run over this length of time. To me, this is an example of Maersk Oil’s commitment to supporting Qatarisation,” she said.
The Qatarization Strategy also includes a Career Orientation Review Scheme for existing employees that is overseen by a new in-house coach and a recruitment campaign which includes the www.FindYourPlace.qa website.
“Our exhaustive study showed that attrition was at its highest among Qataris during the first two years of employment. By providing more support and assistance over that time through the Qatari Development Programme we hope that our employees will gain skills that allow them to develop into future leaders – which will benefit our business and ultimately contribute to Qatar’s future success. A two-year programme is a large investment by Maersk Oil in young Qataris,” said Sheikh Jassim Al-Thani, Maersk Oil Qatar’s head of Qatarisation.
Fourteen employees at Maersk Oil have joined the first intake of the Qatari Development Programme.
“Being part of the programme enables me to learn a collection of skills that I couldn’t gain elsewhere. During my short time on the programme, I have already learnt the basics in managing groups and also managing my own time and then applying that to real life environments. The programme has enabled me to build confidence in my approach to work and also set professional goals so I progress further with my career,” said Aisha Ahmad Al-Nuaimi, a process engineer at Maersk Oil.
