DU EMEA’s curriculum is tailored to the region’s needs to deliver cutting-edge learning that will develop the next generation of international business leaders and advisers. Located in Belgium as a regional hub to serve Europe and the Middle East, the university builds on the success of Deloitte University (DU) launched two years ago in Westlake, Texas, USA, which has been attended by more than 50,000 people from over 70 countries.
An example of the innovation and learning the university will deliver is the Deloitte Client Experience Labs, which also opened at the DU EMEA facility. Along with the learning programs delivered at DU EMEA, the Lab will provide a semi-permanent environment for clients and staff to collaborate on innovative approaches to address complex business problems. Lab sessions will incorporate the use of expert facilitation, tailored engagement techniques, a flexible physical design space, and collaborative technologies. In FY14, nearly 4,000 people are expected to participate in the DU EMEA curriculum, while participation is expected to be close to 10,000 training days, rising to at least 30,000 training days annually in the next three years. Training programs include sessions organised centrally, locally or virtually.
The opening ceremony of DU EMEA took place at Dolce La Hulpe to celebrate with 350 people the commitment taken by the participating member firms. During his opening speech, Deloitte Global CEO Barry Salzberg shared the story of the founding of DU in the United States. “Deloitte University is more than a physical location—it represents the global expansion of a different, and we think better, way of doing business. As a professional services organization, we need smart, well-trained people to serve our clients across borders. Deloitte professionals are the greatest asset we have, and we’re committed to investing in them and developing them as leaders,” Barry Salzburg, Global CEO of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, said.
“We launched the first DU in the U.S. two years ago. In that short time it’s become successful beyond our highest expectations. This second university builds on that success and satisfies a need in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.”
As with DU in the United States, DU EMEA courses will be led by current Deloitte leaders who will share their knowledge and on-the-job experiences in a tailored classroom setting. Deloitte is working alongside with Dolce Hotels and Resorts for the hosting of centrally organized training – Dolce La Hulpe Brussels is the primary location for DU EMEA, with additional space at Dolce Chantilly to cater for expected future growth.
The programmes within the DU EMEA curriculum were designed to ensure that learning remains an integral part of the workplace and is practically applied in the most effective way. The curriculum was developed to bring high value to business and includes business development, leadership, functional, and industry learning.
“The development of an international curriculum at Deloitte University EMEA has been a collaborative effort between member firms,” Deloitte Netherlands’ Jorrit Volkers, Dean, DU EMEA, said. “Deloitte University EMEA is a place for current Deloitte leaders to inspire and develop the next generation.”
“Competition for talent in the coming years will be challenging. Deloitte University EMEA will help the organization attract and retain talent by distinguishing Deloitte from its competitors,” Omar Fahoum, chairman and chief executive at Deloitte Middle East said.
“We aim to develop comprehensive, innovative and impactful solutions to the challenges faced by clients and by society. Both DU EMEA and The Lab are important platforms for sharing experiences and insights that will contribute to those solutions.”
Fahoum believed that DU EMEA would continue to contribute to broader debates on corporate leadership development and learning. With this goal in mind, he discussed current challenges and trends in the world of corporate and leadership development training during the ME Annual Partners Meeting that took place last month and which brought together a number of Deloitte global leaders and member firms CEOs and the ME firm partners marking the beginning of future collaboration and partnering amongst Middle East member firms and DU EMEA.