Middlesex University and DP World have joined forces to offer a range of the global marine terminal operator’s employees the chance to boost their qualifications and career prospects.

From January, DP World will begin offering a range of new development opportunities for their staff, linking up with Middlesex work based learning experts who will ensure DP World’s training benefits not only their operations, but also recognises the efforts of employees with University level qualifications.

DP World has nearly 30,000 staff based across the globe – including an expanded workforce based at its London Gateway development opening in 2013. The partnership will see Middlesex working alongside DP World’s Talent Management team to devise a range of leadership training opportunities. First on the agenda is a customised Masters programme and in-company degree qualifications [potentially including an MBA] for managers.

Middlesex University’s Dean of the Institute for Work Based Learning, Jonathan Garnett, explains: “Our job is to solve business issues, helping companies to combine individual learning with organisational development. This is crucial in the current economic climate where nobody wants to lose their best people to competitors.

“Because DP World’s operation is truly global we will help them offer a consistency of approach across their training wherever it’s delivered, and provide external recognition to reward staff success. We know from our research and client feedback that employees are far more committed and motivated when in-house training leads to genuine qualifications.”

DP World’s VP for Talent Management, Tracee White, travelled to London from the company’s Dubai headquarters to make the partnership official. She said: “We are extremely excited to be partnering with Middlesex University. One of DP World’s core beliefs is to be innovative and partnerships such as this further provide our employees with the opportunity to broaden their knowledge base, which in turn provides for a fertile learning opportunity through which any organisation will prosper”.

The collaboration is also likely to see Middlesex and DP world co-operate on mutually beneficial research projects.