LearnStream Develops Courseware
for the World Health Organization

In a world of constant change, the World Health Organization (WHO) needs its team to be able to respond and react effectively to global health challenges. A prerequisite for this preparedness is a clear understanding by staff worldwide of WHO's mandate. So when the Geneva-based organization went looking for a firm to develop educational material about its new corporate strategy, it chose LearnStream, an award-winning expert in courseware design. The Fredericton-based firm was identified as a potential supplier and then awarded the lucrative contract thanks to some astute networking by its team and a powerful presentation by its President and CEO, Ken Reimer.

It all started when a senior Canadian International Development Agency official who knew about LearnStream's work and reputation suggested that they contact someone from WHO on their next trip to Geneva. After just completing a successful project for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), LearnStream was able to secure an invitation to meet with high-level WHO staff. The next step involved a lot of hard work and motivation. "After months of research, late nights and very early mornings, our marketing team was able to prepare us for the trip," says Reimer.

Applying its Motto: Inspired Learning Worldwide
"Understanding WHO's corporate strategy and how it links to the organization's work on global health challenges inspired us to create a curriculum that would inspire the learners as well," adds Cindy Seeley, LearnStream's Lead Instructional Designer. "Ken has often stated that only people who have a true passion for their work and want to make a difference globally should endeavour to enter this market. His genuine commitment to international aid and development was surely felt during his presentation to WHO staff." According to Reimer, a key component in effective training is genuine concern for the subject matter and the learners. "When you see that what you're doing is actually teaching people to be more efficient in, let's say, getting food into places where there are hundreds of thousands of refugees flowing across a border, you know that you're having an impact on those people's lives," he explains.

The three-month project, which wound up in 2000, involved developing an interactive and engaging multimedia CD-ROM for dissemination to a diversified group of 3,000 WHO staff members. Two more courses were subsequently created to explain WHO's move to results-based management and how to use the new performance management and development system.

Trade Missions Key
With a client list made up of U.S. companies (about 70 percent), Canadian companies (20 percent) and international firms and agencies such as WHO, LearnStream has taken full advantage of Team Canada Atlantic trade missions to penetrate the huge U.S. market. "We participate in these missions because we believe a continued presence in the U.S. is important for growing our business," says Reimer, who has attended trade missions and conferences throughout North America, including in Chicago; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; New York; and Los Angeles.

As part of its growth strategy south of the border, in 2004 LearnStream opened an office in the metro D.C. area. "We will benefit from having a presence in the Greater Washington Area," says Reimer, citing $6.4 billion in contracts that the White House Office of Homeland Security promises to award to first-responders in the areas of training, communications and outfitting. "It is estimated that 12 percent of the total U.S. training market resides in the mid-Atlantic region."

Since starting off in 1993 with a team of seven people, LearnStream has grown to become one of Canada's largest and most successful training solutions providers. Among its high-profile clients are Apotex, Sybase, SkillSoft, Royal Caribbean Cruises, MacDonald Dettwiler & Associates, Nortel Networks, Royal Bank, Clarica, the World Health Organization, the World Bank and the United Nations.

For more information, contact:

International Financing Division
International Trade Canada
Tel.: (613) 995-7251 E-mail: ifinet@international.gc.ca

or

Ken Reimer, President and CEO
LearnStream
Tel.: 506-447-4900
E-mail: info@learnstream.com
Internet: www.learnstream.com