Elearning! Magazine: Building Smarter Companies via Learning & Workplace Technologies.
Department of Veterans Affairs'
Education Provides'VALU'
THE V.A. LEARNING UNIVERSITY PROVIDES A SINGLE TOUCH-POINT TO ACCESS A FULL SUITE OF COURSE OFFERINGS.
BY STEPHEN MILES
When Eric K. Shinseki, Secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.), issued the call to transform the department into a leading 21st-century organization, he knew investment in human capital was pivotal to success. The challenge facing the V.A. was enormous: the organization need- ed a flexible, scalable solution capable of providing effective training to 320,000 employees operating in medical centers
46 November / December 2011 Government Elearning!
and facilities nationwide. The answer? The V.A. Learning
University (VALU), a comprehensive employee development corporate univer- sity that offers in-person training and Web-based curricula, providing users with a single touchpoint to access a full suite of course offerings, professional certification programs and interactive online communities.
A HOMEGROWN SOLUTION
"When we established VALU at the enterprise level in January 2010, we knew we would face sizable challenges," says VALU Dean Alice Muellerweiss. "We needed a solution that was sufficiently intuitive, engaging and adaptable to sat- isfy the diverse range of needs for employees in lines of business ranging from medical care to home loan counsel-