Gulf execs say local training courses fail to meet demand

Professional training courses delivered online are rapidly increasing in popularity across the Middle East, but the supply of suitable courses is failing to keep up with rising demand, according to the latest research by recruitment firm GulfTalent.

The findings are based on a survey of 1,600 professionals based in nine countries across the Middle East, as well as interviews with several of the region’s leading training providers.

Based on GulfTalent’s study, one in five professionals looking to take up training is seeking an online course.

It said this represents a rapid transformation, considering that a decade ago online training was virtually non-existent.

It added that the growth of professional online training could be attributed primarily to its lower cost and greater flexibility for participants.

While the demand for online courses is rising rapidly, the supply of courses is not keeping up, according to the survey, which said 14 percent of those seeking courses with an online element are unable to find a suitable course for their needs.

The supply gap is even greater for those seeking online courses delivered in Arabic language, with 23 percent of professionals unable to find suitable options in the market.

With local supply still inadequate, the region’s professionals are resorting to international providers of online training in order to fulfil their learning and development needs, GulfTalent added.

The survey also showed that the plunge in the oil price and slowdown in regional economic activity seems to have had a mixed impact on the regional training market.

Several training providers interviewed by GulfTalent reported a steep drop in demand for training from corporates, as companies look for opportunities to save costs. However, the drive for cost efficiency seems to be pushing many corporates towards greater utilisation of online training, further boosting demand in this area.

In contrast to corporate demand, demand from individuals paying for their own training is steady or even rising, the survey added.

GulfTalent’s survey found that the appetite for training was highest among the region’s IT and HR professionals, with roughly one in every two professionals interested in taking some kind of training. Lawyers reported the lowest demand for training, with only one in four planning to take up a course in the next two years.

In terms of subject areas, the survey found the highest demand for training to be Engineering and Project Management, due to the very high proportion of engineering professionals working in the region, followed by Finance. For female professionals, top categories were HR, Administration, Business Management and Education.