Since July, POSCO Group University has visited overseas affiliates in China, Japan, India and Vietnam   to operate the “Program for New Leaders” and the “Internal Instructor Fostering Program” based on its Global Teaching and Learning Kit (GTaLK). As POSCO expands its global businesses, the steelmaker is conducting the systematic global talent program across group levels, allowing all members of POSCO Group to receive equal growth opportunities regardless of their company or nationality.

Selected employees from 35 overseas affiliates in six countries including China, Japan, India, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia, attended the “Program for New Leaders” and “Internal Instructor Fostering Program,” which were conducted for the first time. Employees working at local affiliates of POSCO E&C, Daewoo International and POSCO ICT also received the training.

“Program for New Leaders” is designed to provide practical assistance for new leaders to establish goals and properly implement leadership roles. Eighty-two local employees who completed the program learned about POSCO’s vision and history, as well as the roles and responsibilities of POSCO Group leaders and management skills needed in leadership roles.

Employees at POSCO-Maharashtra celebrated their completion of the New Leadership Program, which ran for 3 days from October 5.

The 59 local employees who participated in the “Internal Instructor Fostering Program” will soon be responsible for conducting various internal trainings including those focused on POSCO Group’s management philosophy and headquarter policies. POSCO Group University will foster 25 additional local internal instructors in cooperation with POSCO-South Asia, POSCO-America and POSCO-Mexico by the end of this year, and plans to award excellent instructors.

In addition to the training programs, POSCO Group University created GTaLK, a series of educational materials and online lectures on 18 subjects such as value sharing, leadership, management and product knowledge. GTaLK has been distributed to 60 overseas affiliates in three languages—English, Chinese and Japanese—and is expected to play an important role in strengthening core competencies and enhancing local affiliates’ own training programs.

The Global Teaching and Learning Kit (GTaLK) centers on 18 subjects that are essential to strengthening the core competencies of employees working for overseas affiliates.

Here’s what a few POSCO employees had to say about the company’s training programs and kits:

Yang-dong Park / POSCO-JAPAN
“Participating in the new leadership program was a valuable experience for me to equip myself with basic competencies as a POSCO Group leader and to reevaluate the role of leaders. I will strive to become a leader who can be a role model to subordinates. ”

Chiranjeev Maini / POSCO-India
“After completing the internal instructor fostering program, I could feel the sense of unity as one of POSCO Group’s members, and gained confidence as an instructor. I will actively perform my role delivering POSCO HQ’s management philosophy and policies accurately and effectively.”

Santitad Paimai / POSCO-South Asia
“This program helped me to better understand POSCO HQ’s global training policy. The English version of the latest training kit will be helpful in teaching as an internal instructor in the future.”
POSCO Group University plans to expand its global training infrastructure to foster superior global talent who will lead the future growth of overseas affiliates through close operation with overseas representative affiliates.

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◈ What is ‘POSCO Global Volunteer Week’ ?

The Global Volunteer Week, starting in 2010, is hosted to settle in sharing as a corporate culture within POSCO, as a global corporate citizen, and is POSCO`s unique social contribution activity to globally increase POSCO Family`s sense of belonging and pride.

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In Korea, POSCO employees engaged in various volunteer work: Some helped agricultural communities in Pohang and Gwangyang, while others participated in building homes with Habitat for Humanity and in ‘Clean Ocean Volunteers’, POSCO’s sea environment preservation volunteer initiative. Some also volunteered to preserve our cultural heritage at Gyeoungju, a city of much historical significance. CEO Kwon Ohjoon also volunteered to deliver lunch boxes to neglected elders living alone at permanent rental housing for the poor.

Now, let’s have a look at what POSCO employees around the globe did to help their local communities in this 2014 POSCO Global Volunteer Week!

Indonesia Krakatau: Repairing Schools and Religious Facilities

[POSCO Indonesia team helped repair schools and religious facilities]

POSCO employees at Krakatau, Indonesia visited local schools and religious sites to help improve the conditions by cleaning, painting and repairing the buildings. Props to team Indonesia!

China Qingdao: Warmhearted Caring for Deaf Children

[POSCO China had a meaningful time with deaf children]

In China, POSCO employees cared for deaf children and helped improve the living conditions of ethnic Koreans.

Malaysia MKPC: Remodeling Welfare Center for the Elderly

[Employees at POSCO Malaysia helped remodel a welfare center for the elderly]

POSCO Employees at Malaysia MKPC pulled up their sleeves to remodel a nearby center for senior citizens and clean up local schools. Kudos to POSCO Malaysia for their hard work in spreading love to the community!

POSCO Japan – Cleaning the Streets & Bazaar Event

[POSCO Japan employees cleaned the streets around Nagoya Castle]

POSCO Japan employees cleaned up the area around Nagoya Castle and Arakawa River. They also held a bazaar event for the physically challenged. “I had a meaningful time aiding and caring for the physically challenged during the bazaar event. I’m looking forward to more opportunities to do volunteer work,” said Takimoto Mami, a JEPC employee who participated in the event. “It makes me feel happy and proud to be a part of POSCO when I see my fellow employees actively participate in volunteer work year after year,” said Jung Min Kim, a JEPC employee who oversees global volunteer work.

POSCO Vietnam: Charity Kitchen

Also, POSCO Vietnam employees helped out a charity kitchen run by a nearby hospital. They delivered the food to people living in poverty-stricken areas. Aren’t you hungry for more interesting episodes? Hello, POSCO blog’s next post will be a close-up story of the Vietnam volunteer work experience with commentaries from POSCO Vietnam employee. Stay tuned!

The POSCO global family had a meaningful time in their respective locations during 2014 POSCO Global Volunteer Week. POSCO will continue its efforts to spread the love as a responsible corporate citizen.

 Pictured here: Sergio and his co-workers doing community service with the Korea Steel Association

About Sergio’s Path to Korea

Colombia is actually home for Sergio. So how did he end up joining a Korean steelmaker company? Growing up Sergio was full of curiosity about other countries. He decided he wanted to learn Chinese and at the time the Beijing Olympics was taking place so travelling to China was the perfect choice to not only learn Chinese culture and language but also to experience the Olympics. While studying in Beijing, Sergio made good Korean friends that naturally led him to visit Korea.

 Pictured here: Sergio during his stay in Beijing

Raising Awareness about Korea and POSCO

Sergio came to Korea in 2011 and participated in POSCO’s global internship program. Prior to joining POSCO, Sergio says that he honestly did not know much about Korean companies. Now, not only can he speak confidently about POSCO and other Korean companies, he also can speak four languages! He is truly a globally talented person who can speak English, Spanish, Chinese and Korea. Going forward, it is his dream to use his multicultural background to help POSCO penetrate into Central and South America. POSCO sees Brazil as a key investment market so Sergio hopes developing business in Brazil will be a successful starting point for further business development in Central and South America.

Pictured here: Sergio hanging out with colleagues

Some Words of Advice on Working Overseas

Living and working in a foreign county is not always easy. In Sergio’s first few months living in Korea he had some amusing episodes because of his level of Korean. In one instance, instead of telling his boss ‘I will bring the newspaper’ he accidently spoke in a commanding tone saying ‘Bring the newspaper’.

Pictured here: Night out with fellow co-workers

Overcoming cultural differences and adjusting to work life was possible with the help of colleagues. In terms of work, Sergio spends most of his time using English and Spanish which are his first languages. However, Sergio was not afraid to go outside his comfort zone and he made the effort to socialize with coworkers outside the office. He is currently a part of the POSCO Steeler team which is POSCO’s corporate soccer team and it has helped him communicate in Korean with colleagues more easily.

Here’s some more advice for being recruited as top global talent for POSCO.

Pictured here: Sergio and his POSCO Steelers teammates

At the awards ceremony organized by the Sharing Korea Campaign Office and hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and KBS, Vice President Hwang Eun-yeon received the President’s Award on behalf of POSCO.

POSCO received the President’s Award for carrying out various social contribution projects and for the strength in depth of its employees’ participation in the sharing activities.

Ever since its foundation, POSCO has never stinted in its support of ways to grow together with the local community, look after neglected neighbors domestically and internationally, and foster global talent. Indeed, 98% of all company employees participate in volunteer activities with the average employee volunteering 36 hours, making POSCO a leader in social contribution activities.

POSCO Family employees and families participate in volunteer activities on ‘Sharing Saturday’ once a month, while a ‘Global Volunteer Week’ is in operation whereby POSCO Family employees participate across the globe in volunteer activities for one week. This year, over 55,000 POSCO Family employees from 22 countries participated either in looking after the socially marginalized or in environmental cleanup activities.

In addition, emergency relief kits were made and provided to victims of natural disasters, while clean ocean volunteer activities have been carried out to cleanup marine ecosystems. What’s more, sister relationships with 240 organizations and villages nationwide are helping neighbors in need throughout Korea.

The Global Saemaul (New Community) Movement has been promoted in developing countries to support the fight against hunger and help in the battle to overcome poverty. The POSCO Children’s Center established in Zimbabwe, Africa, provides education for children aged 3~5 along with children suffering from aids, and is operated by support funds from POSCO Family employees.

Not only that, but POSCO employees have been participating in the ‘1% Sharing Activity’ by donating 1% of their wages to neighbors in need. The sharing activity, which started in October 2011 among 930 POSCO and POSCO family company officers and senior managers, has been extended throughout the company exceeding a 96% participation rate in just 18 months since it first started at POSCO, and with 90% at investing companies. POSCO established the 1% Sharing Foundation to utilize funds more meaningfully, and plans to carry out systematic social contribution activities.

Meanwhile, following the Sharing Korea awards, the 4^th Annual Sharing Korea Festival was held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium Peace Plaza for two days starting on the 5^th. POSCO participated and operated a booth that showcased POSCO’s social contribution and sharing activities.