Elearning! Magazine: Building Smarter Companies via Learning & Workplace Technologies.
Page 27 of 52
Nuclear Industry Embraces
Advanced E-learning
WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY'S PROGRESSIVE TRAINING VISION
BY JERRY ROCHE About Westinghouse…
Westinghouse Electric Company, a group company of Toshiba Corp., is the world's pioneering nuclear energy company. In 1957, Westinghouse sup- plied the Shippingport Atomic Power Station, the first full-scale atomic elec- tric power plant devoted exclusively to peacetime uses. Today, Westinghouse technology is the basis for approxi- mately one-half of the world's operat- ing nuclear plants. The company and its approximately 14,000 employees continue their industry leadership by providing engineering and services for customers around the world. The Westinghouse AP1000 reactor is the first Generation III+ reactor design to receive final design approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Westinghouse has provided training servic- es to the nuclear industry for more than 40 years. During that time, the company's training philosophy has evolved to better meet the learning needs of both its external nuclear customers and its own employees. Today, Westinghouse's Corporate University is the heart of the company's training activities. Established about two- and-a-half years ago, it provides the vehicle for determining the training needs of its customers and then developing the learn- ing approach to best satisfy these needs. "We've gone through the initial stages
of examining the needs of the organiza- tion to structure the university in a way that best supports the employees and the business areas of Westinghouse," says Mike Corrigan, leader of the Design Services Group. "We have done a lot of work up front to communicate to the
organization that we are here to help pro- vide the best training and learning solu- tions possible. Overall, the organization has embraced the university to the point that people are involving it in more, and earlier in projects." Traditionally, Westinghouse has used a
combination of classroom and hands-on delivery to accomplish its training mission. It offers student-centered, nuclear technol- ogy training programs that incorporate advanced educational techniques to achieve its customers' competency-based learning objectives. Its classrooms feature advanced audio-visual equipment and computer-based training terminals. A nuclear power plant control room simula- tor and associated equipment allows stu- dents to gain hands-on experience in a simulated performance environment. More than 10 years ago, Pam Aigner, the
director of online learning programs for Westinghouse, recognized that this already strong portfolio of delivery methods could be enhanced through the use of online learning. Since then, the company has become a nuclear industry leader in the delivery of blended online learning.
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