Company background: Building a culture of continuous learning and curiosity
du, the leading telecom and digital services provider, offers a portfolio of mobile, fixed-line, broadband, entertainment, and fintech solutions. With a digital-first approach powered by ultra-reliable fiber and 5G technology, du leverages advanced innovations such as cloud computing, AI-driven analytics, cybersecurity, and IoT integration to offer tailored services. As a trusted digital enabler driving the UAE’s digital transformation, du collaborates with a dynamic partner ecosystem to propel industries and society toward operational excellence, fostering a more connected and technologically advanced future in the region.
“As part of our commitment to excellence, du aims to be the employer of choice by fostering a culture of continuous learning and development. Our learning needs are driven by the rapid evolution of the telecom industry, necessitating upskilling in areas like digital technologies, customer experience, and leadership,” explains Dr. Alia Al Serkal, Head of People Learning & Growth at du.
The challenge: A diverse workforce with evolving needs
du needed a learning solution that catered to a diverse workforce with varying learning preferences while aligning with corporate objectives. Faced with the challenge of cultivating a stronger learning culture and increasing adoption of digital tools, du set out to find a scalable solution that would engage employees, encourage self-directed development, and align learning with business goals.
The organisation needed to deliver learning experiences that were flexible, accessible, and sparked both personal curiosity and collective growth. Most importantly, the selected platform needed to integrate seamlessly with existing systems and reflect the insights uncovered in their Learning Needs Analysis (LNA).
Implementation: Launching Learning Byte—bite-sized learning modules
du partnered with OpenSesame to access a broad catalogue of high-quality, on-demand courses spanning leadership, technology, and core business skills. OpenSesame’s platform integrated easily with du’s Learning Management System (LMS), empowering the team to curate and deliver learning experiences quickly and efficiently.
The rollout centered around a new initiative, Learning Byte, released every Monday through the internal communications platform.
Each month’s content was aligned to a specific learning theme, drawn directly from the LNA and corporate strategy. Delivered in short, accessible formats, Learning Byte made it easy for employees to dip in and out of learning as part of their everyday routine, and because the content was also available via mobile, learning could happen on the go. But what truly brought the programme to life was its community element. Employees were encouraged to comment, share their reflections, and engage in discussion, helping to embed learning within the wider culture and strengthen connections between colleagues.
The platform implementation was seamless. OpenSesame’s customer success team worked closely with du to tailor content selections to learning objectives, and the intuitive integration with LMS meant there were no major technical barriers. With the system in place and Learning Byte launched, employees quickly embraced the new format.
Results: Rapidly increased learner engagement
The results have been compelling. In 2024, employees logged an average of 26 hours of learning, demonstrating a clear commitment to development.
Curiosity for non-mandatory learning rose to 86.4%, a 3.4% increase from the previous year. Thousands of courses were accessed by employees through the MyJourney platform, where strong course relevance increased engagement across all levels of the business. This initiative also contributed meaningfully to leadership development and technical upskilling efforts, strengthening the organisation’s future-readiness.
“As a business, we’re always looking for ways to embed learning into the flow of work,” said Dr. Al Serkal. “With OpenSesame’s support, we’ve transformed how our employees think about learning. The flexibility, relevance, and community-driven approach of Learning Byte has sparked real engagement. We’re not just delivering training—we’re building a culture where curiosity and development are part of the everyday work,” concludes Dr. Al Serkal.
Looking forward: Personalised growth for every learner
Next, du plans to deepen personalisation by offering learning paths tailored to individual aspirations. The team is also exploring ways to enhance mobile access and nurture more collaborative learning experiences, ensuring that knowledge-sharing becomes a natural, continuous part of daily work.
With OpenSesame as a strategic partner, du is well-positioned to meet these ambitions and continue building a culture rooted in growth and curiosity.