How winning an award can transform your Corporate University

Interview with Annick Renaud-Coulon, Founder and Chairwoman of GlobalCCU by Peter Dern, Germany

Peter Dern is business consultant, coach, speaker and trainer. As the former head of worldwide operating Corporate University, he knows first-hand how to set up an academy, develop it further and make it the most important strategic partner for management and successful in the long term.

To see the interview in German, click here

In the fast-paced world of Learning & Development, it’s not uncommon for leaders to wonder how they can make their teams’ efforts truly stand out. Awards can be a powerful way to showcase excellence, gain visibility, and drive strategic value—not just for your team but for your entire organization.

To explore this topic further, I had the pleasure of having a conversation with Annick Renaud-Coulon, the visionary founder and Chairwoman of GlobalCCU. In this insightful interview, Annick shares the mission behind GlobalCCU, what sets their Awards apart, and why participating in such a competition can be transformational for Corporate Universities and L&D departments alike.

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Is it worth participating in an award? How can I increase my chances of winning?”—this interview is a must-read. Dive in to learn about the unique benefits of the GlobalCCU Awards, gain expert tips for crafting a standout submission, and discover how such recognition can elevate your team to new heights.

Peter Dern (PD): Annick, thank you for joining us today. To start, could you tell us about GlobalCCU and its mission?

Annick Renaud-Coulon (ARC): Thank you, Peter. GlobalCCU, the Global Council of Corporate Universities, was established in 2005 to help practitioners of this industry to learn from each other. Year after year, our organisation became the unique aggregator of Corporate Universities worldwide, the observatory of the Corporate University Industry, a factory for strategists, a rewarding and highlighting organisation, and a membership organisation. Our mission is to help Corporate Universities, Academies, and Centres for Excellence create strategic value for People, Business, Society, and the Planet.

PD: What distinguishes GlobalCCU from other organizations that offer awards in the corporate education sector?

ARC: GlobalCCU stands out as the only truly worldwide awards contest in the Corporate University field. Our Awards recognize Learning and Development structures that have performed at the highest level of excellence within their specific contexts.

They have their unique features which attract those who are not simply chasing awards but want to learn and grow through the application process as well:

• Truly global and prized (organised every two years, candidates apply from five continents)
• Unique in the management of Organisations (focused on the real impact of Corporate Universities on business and culture, on their strategic and operational effectiveness in their ecosystems, and on their ability to build innovative solutions in solving business problems or seizing development opportunities)
• Rich in ideals for our world (fairness, respect for differences and cultural contexts, corporate responsibility, common good)
• In-depth (requires relevant evidence to support good practice statements) and reliable (rigorous application process beyond the sole purposes of communication)
• Virtuous and useful for the profession (through the observation of trends / evolution and shaping the future).
• Judged by an Advisory and Judging Committee made up of Corporate University Directors chosen for their strategic maturity and multicultural experience.

PD: Could you elaborate on the GlobalCCU Awards and what they aim to achieve?

ARC: We assess how Learning and Development structures create value for People, Business, Society and the Planet as it is our motto already mentioned here. Therefore, we emphasize not only the impact of Learning & Development activities and support on business success but also on the corporate culture evolution, on social and climate change involvement, on innovation development, nowadays on the implementation of AI and on how the Corporate Universities communicate with their client systems through remarkable brand and assure their durability, all these dimensions being aligned with the holistic vision of GlobalCCU.

PD: What benefits can organizations expect from participating in the GlobalCCU Awards?

ARC: There are so many benefits, Peter. Winning or even participating in the Awards helps you establish your Corporate University as a global thought leader, boosting its intellectual authority and reputation. It’s an opportunity to really learn more about your own organization—a process that fosters growth and reflection. You also strengthen your influence, showing stakeholders that you are a strategic partner they cannot overlook. And the impact doesn’t stop there: it inspires your peers, sets benchmarks in the industry, and stimulates your team, attracting top talents. On a communication level, it helps you refine your messaging to stakeholders and boosts both your corporate and employer brand on a global scale.

PD: How does winning a GlobalCCU Award impact an organization’s Learning & Development initiatives?

ARC: Winning a GlobalCCU Award can validate the effectiveness of organization’s Learning & Development strategies or can provoke a readjustment of them. Usually, it enhances credibility, motivates teams, attracts top talent and much more. Moreover, it provides a platform to share best practice nuggets and innovations with a global audience, fostering continuous improvement for the profession.

PD: What criteria does GlobalCCU use to evaluate award submissions?

ARC: We evaluate submissions based on several criteria included in the GlobalCCU Framework of Reference and specific criteria to our contest that are: relevance, coherence, quality, accuracy, originality, clarity and thoroughness. These criteria ensure a comprehensive and the fairest assessment as possible of each Corporate University’s application.

PD: Can you share some success stories from past GlobalCCU Award winners?

ARC: You are the best example of one of the success stories you refer to, as when you won your GlobalCCU best overall bronze award you obtained higher budgets, more visibility and enormous motivation in your team, etc. We could also mention success stories of Corporate University Directors who were called to play higher responsibilities after having won a GlobalCCU award at the best overall level.

PD: What advice would you give to organizations considering applying for the GlobalCCU Awards?

ARC: I encourage organisations to reflect deeply on what is at stake for them, for their teams and for their reputation if they win a GlobalCCU award, on their strategies and their chance of success in relation with their achievements. I encourage also them to be bold as they cannot know the level of excellence of the other candidates before the outcomes. Presenting a clear narrative and authentic and relevant evidence showcasing achievements aligned with goals is crucial. Additionally, engaging your team in the application process can provide valuable insights and foster a sense of ownership.

PD: How does GlobalCCU support Corporate Universities beyond the Awards?

ARC: Beyond the Awards, GlobalCCU offers a range of services, including GlobalCCU CU Certification to guide Corporate Universities toward excellence, Masterclasses to enhance efficiency and sustainability, a Membership Community for benchmarking and collaboration, and Branding Certification to develop a respected Corporate University brand. These services are designed to support continuous development and strategic value creation.

PD: Finally, what future developments can we expect from GlobalCCU?

ARC: We are continually evolving to meet the changing needs of Corporate Universities. This includes expanding our global reach, introducing new categories in our Awards as we did this year, new requirements in our Certification, new topics in our Masterclasses and Community Membership Programme, to reflect emerging trends, and enhancing our support services to drive excellence in corporate education worldwide.

PD: Thank you, Annick, for sharing these insights. I’m confident our readers will find this information invaluable.

ARC: Thank you, Peter. It was a pleasure discussing GlobalCCU and our commitment to advancing corporate education globally

https://peter-dern.com/wie-ein-award-eine-corporate-university-transformieren-kann