Barriers in corporate e-learning ..BY: By Rozana Sani ..

LD:
CONTINUOUS training is crucial for working professionals to attain
new skills and knowledge, and be ready to adapt to market and
economic changes. The majority of training resources in Malaysia
c.
Publication: Asia Africa Intelligence Wire

Publication Date: 30-SEP-04

COPYRIGHT 2004 Financial Times Ltd.

(From New Straits Times (Malaysia))

CONTINUOUS training is crucial for working professionals to attain new skills and knowledge,
and be ready to adapt to market and economic changes.

The majority of training resources in Malaysia come in two main forms: the bulk of which is
the traditional face-to-face trainer-trainee programmes, and the emerging computer-based or
Internet-based training programme called e-learning.

While corporate e-learning is seeing a major push with the recent move by the Human
Resources Ministry to make the provision of approved e- learning courses for staff training
eligible for allocations under the Human Resources Development Fund, the traditional
approach in training seems to still be the preferred mode.

According to chief executive officer of training portal Training.org.my, Nazrol Hafiz Nazlan,
there is still much room for growth for e-learning courses in the training market.

"Based on the traffic that goes through the portal, there are not many requests for e-learning
type of courses. Our individual and corporate clients still favour the traditional type of training
courses where instruction and information come live from the trainer in a classroom
atmosphere," he told CompuTimes on Tuesday.

Besides the manual and modules given, Nazrol said the advantage of tapping onto the
trainer's experience and the hands-on activities is something trainees look for. Clients, he
added, want the assurance that course attendees leave a training course or session ready to
apply their new skills.

"One of the main challenges for e-learning in professional and corporate training is the
material. Many existing in the market come from abroad and may not be suitable for the
market. Another major challenge is the infrastructure. Until broadband Internet becomes more
pervasive and affordable, e-learning for professionals will not take off in a big way - at least
for the next two years," said Nazrol.

Elaborating further on the two-year-old training portal which is managed by Malacca-based

Serai Solutions, Nazrol said 30 per cent of its clientele is from the corporate sector.

Among its clients are Bank Negara Malaysia, Multimedia University, Department of
Environment, Panasonic Universiti Selangor and the Employees' Provident Fund.

Training.org.my, which focuses on providing information and communications technology and

management training courses to working professionals and organisations, counts Universiti
Teknologi Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) as its partners in reaching out to the Klang Valley and
central region markets.

On future plans, Nazrol said the company intends to study the market for e-learning first
before proceeding with more firm plans in the area.

"We will also be beefing up our trainer community and expand the partners," he said, adding
that Training.org.my has a very stringent procedure when selecting trainers. The criteria for
selection include at least 10 years working experience and is an expert in his or her particular
field. Referrals from existing trainers are also considered.