EIM unveils e-Learning community for UAE at GITEX

Entitled LearnOnline, the initial phase of this service will offer over 800 courses in desktop computing, information technology and business & professional development. Whilst EIM will host the community, Element K, the leading global e-learning provider, will supply the content and the e-learning engines. Element K has developed its online courses in partnership with leading IT vendors and renowned academic institutions.

Users will access the service exclusively via the Internet at www.LearnOnline.ae, where they will be able to register for courses of interest to them. By providing a cost effective, high quality service with interactive libraries in both Arabic and English, LearnOnline.ae aims to help Internet users improve core skills and acquire the knowledge they need for success. By providing a variety of learning methods using extensive audio and visual technologies, LearnOnline.ae will meet any learner's needs.

'This is a big step both for EIM and for the country,' commented Maroua Naim, General Manager, EIM. 'E-learning is a key application that is enriching communities, companies and employees on the one hand, whilst driving up the demand for broadband Internet services on the other. We see LearnOnline as fueling both these criteria.'

The Desktop computing courses will include courses on essential PC applications, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Many of the titles in this section will be also available in Arabic.

The IT section, meanwhile, will look at more advanced courses in programming languages, databases and web development in addition to a wide range of advanced IT certificates from leading vendors including Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, SUN and Novell.

A large part of the community will be the Business and Professional Development section. Supplied by Harvard Business School Publishing, this area will provide extensive courses in management, finance, e-business, leadership and many other business categories.

All courses have been scrutinized to ensure cost effectiveness, with the annual subscription ranging from AED98 per series, up to AED599 for the advanced certified courses. For this price, users access a series of individual courses on a specific topic.

'Learning is no longer restricted to the classroom or those that can afford it,' added Jamil Ezzo, General Manager, Element K Middle East 'Information has become the currency of the 21st century and with this in mind, many people are utilizing the Internet's convenience and cost benefits to continue the education process outside of the traditional classroom.'

One of the key aspects of the LearnOnline service is the Learning Management System (LMS) KnowledgeHub™, which tracks and assesses the users' progress online throughout the courses and bookmarks topics and useful links.

Initially, only EIM subscribers will be able to purchase courses from the site using their Internet accounts. Looking further ahead, non-subscribers will be able to purchase courses online using a secure credit card payment. In addition, several other areas are in the planning, including language libraries and a variety of lifestyle tutorials. Online conferencing and an events facility are also planned.