Syncrude’s innovation was to recognize that managers are a key factor in successful Essential Skills training. Managers themselves may need to develop Essential Skills, not only to model effective behaviours in the workplace, but also to see the value of supporting Essential Skills training for their direct reports.
Syncrude not only tracked the number of participants in its ERIC program, but also observed changes in behaviour that resulted from the training, especially behaviours that affect safety, productivity, adaptability and team performance. Syncrude also developed a Syncrude Applied Math (SAM) program for numeracy skills upgrading. Employees and new recruits who participate in ERIC and SAM typically achieve better results on the Test of Workplace Essential Skills (TOWES) and are more successful in trades certification exams than people who do not participate in these programs.
Syncrude has partnered with adult education experts at Keyano College in Fort McMurray to deliver its Essential Skills programs. While Syncrude owns the copyrights to ERIC and SAM, Keyano College manages and adapts these products and brokers sales of customized versions of them to third parties, from whom Keyano derives revenue.