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HCM – Learning

Source: Admin Guide – Human Capital Management (May 14, 2026), pp. 1918–2203


Overview

Workday Learning supports content creation, delivery, enrollment management, campaign management, and extended enterprise (external) learning. Integrates with Skills Cloud, Talent, and Absence.


Learning Setup and Maintenance

Setup Considerations: Learning

Key decisions: - Content types to support (courses, programs, certifications, campaigns) - Instructor management (internal vs. external) - Calendar integrations (Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook) - Virtual classroom platform (Microsoft Teams, Zoom) - Machine learning recommendations configuration - Pricing model (for paid courses) - Extended enterprise (external learners)

Steps: Set Up Learning

  1. Configure learning domains and security
  2. Set up learning instructors (internal and external)
  3. Set up learning assessors
  4. Configure learning dashboards
  5. (Optional) Set Up Machine Learning for Learning Recommendations
  6. (Optional) Set Up Learning Discovery Boards
  7. (Optional) Steps: Set Up Express Interest for Learning Courses
  8. (Optional) Configure calendar integrations

Learning Instructors and Assessors

Task Purpose
Setup Considerations: Learning Instructors Instructor role requirements and configuration
Steps: Set Up Learning Instructors Define and configure instructors
Steps: Set Up Learning Assessors Configure assessor roles for graded content
Steps: Manage External Learning Instructors in Bulk EIB-based bulk management
Steps: Manage Internal Learning Instructors in Bulk Bulk internal instructor updates

Learning Configuration

Task Purpose
Configure Learning Dashboards Define dashboard content for learners and admins
Maintain Learning Validations for Learning Enrollments Enrollment validation rules
Maintain Drop Course Event Categories Categories for course drop reasons
Maintain Learning Unit Types Define unit types for reporting

Concept: Learning Topics — Workday taxonomy for organizing learning content by subject area.

Reference: Learning Content Organization — how content is structured (lesson → course → program).


Learning Security

Configure domain security for learning content creation, enrollment management, and reporting. Key domains: Learning Administration, Learning Enrollment, Learning Content.


Learning Pricing

Configure paid learning: pricing tiers, payment methods, and cost center charging for internal/external learners.


Learner Experience

Configure the learner-facing experience: recommended content, search, bookmarks, learning history, and learning transcript.


Learning Content

Content Types

Type Description
Stand-Alone Lesson Individual learning unit (video, document, SCORM, xAPI)
Course Collection of lessons with structure and assessment
Course Offering Scheduled instance of a course (specific date/time/instructor)
Blended Course Mix of instructor-led and self-paced content
Program Structured series of courses and requirements
Certification Learning requirements with expiry and renewal
Campaign Targeted content delivery to a specific audience

Setup Considerations: Learning Content

Key decisions: Content organization, versioning strategy, expiry periods, completion rules, prerequisite and equivalency rules.

Content Management Tasks

Task Purpose
Setup Considerations: Learning Lessons Configuration for individual lesson types
Setup Considerations: Learning Campaigns Campaign targeting and delivery rules
Steps: Manage Learning Content Day-to-day content lifecycle management
Steps: Set Up Learning Content Description Generation and Revision AI-assisted description drafting
Steps: Set Up Advanced Catalog Management Configure catalog visibility and filtering rules
Set Up External Content Lesson Tracking and Grading Track completions from external platforms
Create Stand-Alone Learning Lessons Upload or link external content
Create Learning Courses Build structured courses with lessons
Create Learning Course Offerings Schedule instructor-led course instances
Create Version Schemas for Blended Courses Define versioning for blended course updates
Move Instructor-Led Classroom Training Online Convert in-person to virtual delivery
Create Learning Programs Multi-course structured learning paths
View and Edit Learning Content Manage existing content
Create Learning Equivalency Rules Define content that satisfies the same requirement
Create Learning Prerequisite Rules Require prior completion before enrollment
Configure Learning Content Highlights Rules Surface featured content on learner home

Campaigns

Setup Considerations: Learning Campaigns — configure targeted content delivery by audience, deadline, and completion tracking.

Steps: Set Up and Launch Learning Campaigns — full workflow for campaign creation and activation.

Certifications

Steps: Set Up Learning Certifications — configure certification requirements, expiry periods, and renewal workflows.


Calendar Integrations

Task Purpose
Steps: Configure Google Calendar for Learning Sync course offerings to Google Calendar
Steps: Configure Microsoft Outlook Calendar for Learning Sync course offerings to Outlook
Steps: Configure Translation Templates for Calendar Email Invites Multilingual calendar invites

Virtual Classroom Integrations

Task Purpose
Steps: Set Up Virtual Classroom Integration with Microsoft Teams Teams meeting creation for course offerings
Steps: Set Up Virtual Classroom Integration with Zoom Zoom meeting creation for course offerings
Steps: Set Up Integration System User Security for Virtual Classroom Integration Authentication setup

Learning Enrollments

Setup Considerations: Learning Enrollments — enrollment request workflow, manager approval, waitlist behavior, completion tracking.

Task Purpose
Mass Enroll Learners Bulk enrollment by audience rule
Mass Drop Learners Bulk removal from courses
Manage Waitlists for Learning Course Offerings Waitlist rules and auto-promotion
Manage Schedules and Grading and Attendance Track attendance and assign grades
Manage Enrollment Completion Mark and manage completion records
Create and Manage Reminders for Learning Content Automated completion reminders
Reset Learning Due Dates Extend deadlines for assigned content
Steps: Waive Learning Assignments Exempt workers from required assignments

Concept: Learning Assignments — how required learning is assigned, tracked, and enforced.

Concept: Waitlists for Learning Course Offerings — waitlist management and auto-enrollment logic.

Reference: Learning Records and Report Data Sources — data sources for custom learning reports.

Reference: Workday-Delivered Reports for Learning — standard reports for completions, assignments, and enrollments.


Extended Enterprise Learning

What It Is: Workday Learning delivered to external users (partners, customers, contractors) outside the organization.

Setup Considerations: Extended Enterprise Learning — user account types, affiliation model, pricing, access management.

Task Purpose
Steps: Set Up Extended Enterprise Learning Full extended enterprise setup
Steps: Set Up Access for Extended Enterprise Learning Access and security configuration
Steps: Set Up Extended Enterprise Affiliations Define affiliation types for external learners
Steps: Set Up Internal Hiring and Transcript Transition for Extended Enterprise Learners Move external to internal learner records
Steps: Set Up Mass Extended Enterprise Learner Account Deactivation Bulk deactivation
Create External Learning Users Add external user accounts
Create Extended Enterprise Learners Register learners in the extended enterprise

Concept: Extended Enterprise Affiliations — how external learners are grouped and managed.

Reference: Extended Enterprise Learning Feature Availability — feature comparison vs. internal learning.


Packaged Content

Configure and manage Workday-delivered or third-party content packages (e.g., LinkedIn Learning, content libraries).


Observational Checklists

Configure checklists for evaluating on-the-job competency demonstrations; used in place of or alongside traditional learning completions.


Cloud Connect for Learning

Integration framework for connecting Workday Learning to external content providers and LRS (Learning Record Store) via xAPI.