Training And Capability-Building

In 2021 the RBA continued to expand its online Learning Academy for members and their suppliers, as lingering travel and in-person gathering restrictions due to the ongoing pandemic drove increased demand for online trainings.

The following courses were developed and added to the Learning Academy in 2021. Most are available in English and Simplified Chinese: • Responding to an Infectious Disease • Quality of Life Measurement • Chemical Inventory • Process Chemical Risk Assessment • Chemical Risk Control • Hazard Communication • Process Chemical Management Training Programs • Medical Surveillance • Chemical Handling • Chemical Emergency Responses • Supply Chain Engagement

By the end of 2021, there were over 70,000 user accounts and 155,000 course completions since the Learning Academy launched in 2014. Over 10,000 new accounts were created in 2021 alone and there were around 40,000 course completions. Monthly active users averaged close to 1,200.

Within the Learning Academy in 2021, there were more than 100 completions of the Factory Lead Certification Program, a training and certification program for factory staff, including several completions of Level 2 (launched in 2020). Factory Lead is an important component of the Factory of Choice (FoC) and Responsible Factory Initiative (RFI) programs. • Factories with a Factory Lead have 26 percent-34 percent higher audit scores than those without a factory certified lead (varies by industry) • Factories with a Factory Lead have fewer

Priority Findings than those without a factory certified lead • Factories with a Factory Lead have fewer overall findings in the audit than those without a factory certified lead

BY THE END OF 2021, THERE WERE MORE THAN 70,000 USER ACCOUNTS AND 155,000 COURSE COMPLETIONS SINCE THE LEARNING ACADEMY LAUNCHED IN 2014

LEARNING ACADEMY MIGRATION

In fall of 2021, RBA staff and members began preparing for the migration of the Learning Academy to a new platform in early 2022. The new platform includes a design and user interface overhaul, an enhanced dashboard, improved system speeds for China-mainland users, a fully functional mobile app, and stronger integration across RBA platforms. Some specific enhancements include: • Clearer display of course progress (Not Started,

In Progress, Completed) and useful menus (certificates, certifications, user profile) • Course trailers • Fully translated interface (including sign-in page) • Certifications feature (for retraining) • Assign multiple courses to multiple users in one action • Customizable notifications (for course enrollment, due dates, and certification expiration) • Dashboard reports • In-system newsletters with attachments

INSTRUCTOR-LED TRAININGS

In addition to the Learning Academy trainings, the RBA continually holds instructor-led training sessions in different time zones. Due to the pandemic, most of these in 2021 were held virtually, including 17 RBA Code of Conduct and VAP Audit Preparation Workshops for 522 participants. Additionally, we hosted six trainings on the RBA Supplemental VAP (SVAP) on Forced Labor for 234 participants.

TOP 10 LEARNING ACADEMY COURSES IN 2021:

1. RBA Code of Conduct - Labor

2. RBA Introduction

3. RBA Code of Conduct- Ethics

4. RBA Code of Conduct - Health and Safety

5. RBA Code of Conduct - Environment

6. RBA Code of Conduct - Management Systems

7. Forced Labor 1: Recognizing Forced Labor

8. RBA Validated Audit Process

9. Forced Labor 2: Preventing Forced Labor

10. RBA Corrective Action Plan