St. Gallen (CH), March 2008 - The Third International SCIL Congress, from 22 to 23 May 2008 in St. Gallen, Switzerland will focus on creating value through the right balance. It revolves around the central themes related to "the changing face of learning". One of the keynote speakers is Nick van Dam, Global Chief Learning Officer for Deloitte Touche in the Netherlands. Here, Nick explains his view on various approaches to the role of Learning and Talent Development.


In 2007 you published your bestselling book "25 Best Practices in Learning & Talent Development". Why did you choose to focus on learning and talent development? What makes these areas so closely connected in your opinion?

Nick van Dam: There are a number of forces that will require organizations to take a very different approach to the role of learning and talent development in their enterprises.

First, due to a combination of pressures including the brief shelf life of knowledge, the pressure of new legislation to develop specific understanding and skills, the need to fill the gap in knowledge and expertise created by retiring baby boomers, the introduction of new technologies, alternative business models, and globalization, to name a few, there is a need to master more competences and develop new skills.

Second, the Internet has changed the way people acquire knowledge, learn, and collaborate around the world. About forty percent of learning hours were delivered through technology-based learning in the United States in 2006 (ASTD).

Third, we are moving more towards a 24/7 global society where people need to develop new competences and skills on the fly. This means there will be a big shift towards workplace learning.

Fourth, Generation Internet, people born after 1980, are joining the workforce. They have very different expectations about work, and their learning preferences are very different as well.

Finally and perhaps most importantly, advances in theory and practice in designing effective learning provide opportunities to develop high-impact learning interventions that have a significant impact on individual performance and business.


You recently reviewed the list of the Training Top 100 companies to explore best practices and current trends in learning. What are main trends?

Nick van Dam: Thanks to the Internet, a myriad of learning solutions have emerged over recent years, supporting both formal and workplace learning. Formal Learning Programs relate to specific learning objectives and typically include instructional design approaches, while workplace learning or self-directed learning supports informal learning and must be crafted to purpose, but does not require specific instructional learning design.


A number of integrated learning solutions provide people with access to information and knowledge. Whereas people in the past searched in books and with colleagues and friends for knowledge, today Google has become the killer application for learning.

Podcasting, both for sound and video, has been launched by many enterprises and has proved to be a very effective medium to for sharing knowledge with a younger generation, as universities are leveraging the ubiquitous iPod® and its competitors to provide students with access to curricula and online lectures.


Collaborative learning applications, including communities of practice, expert networks, and online simulation, are experiencing rapid growth and will have a strong future as they support the team-based learning style of Generation Internet. The classroom has been transformed in many organizations from lecture-based and PowerPoint®-driven events toward a facilitated learning continuum. Classroom simulations and expert performance coaching provide people with a real work experience in a safe environment.


Most enterprises are in the process of defining a new learning strategy that will provide knowledge and skills to their people when they need it; all learning solutions will be part of the extended 'blend' of learning.


You have founded and chaired the eLearning for Kids foundation. What exactly is the mission of this foundation and what activities is it engaged in?


Nick van Dam: ELearning for kids is dedicated to fun and free learning for children aged 5-12. Established in late 2004, our vision is to be the source for childhood learning on the Internet (and on CD ROMs in schools that don't have Internet access) available from anywhere and without a charge.

The foundation offers best in class, free courseware in math, language arts, reading, science, health and life, and computer skills. eLearning for Kids has launched more than eighty courses in English, and about 500,000 children all over the world benefitted from the courseware in 2007. Distribution partnerships have been established, as well as other partnerships including One Laptop Per Child, Close The Gap, To Be Worldwide, and SchoolNetAfrica.

Companies that support eLearning For Kids include IBM, Harvard Business School Publishing, Convergys, Deloitte, Saba, Skillsoft, and about 35 others. However, the Foundation is looking for companies to provide financial sponsorship and to promote its work. Additionally, eLearning For Kids is looking for non-governmental organizations to partner with.