eCompany launches LearnOnline Challenge 2005

This innovative competition is open to all UAE Internet users who can register at www.LearnOnline.ae to participate and have a chance of winning fabulous prizes.

The LearnOnline Challenge 2005, which is into its second year, encourages participants to prepare themselves with the information and resources available on the Internet to answer specific questionnaires online. The questionnaires are designed to test the understanding of participants in various categories. Responses from each category will be judged by a jury and they will award the winners with attractive prizes.

eCompany has partnered with industry leaders HP and AMD and other cosponsors to organize this competition in the UAE. This sponsorship by HP & AMD reflects the social responsibility and commitment of both companies to further the cause of e-Learning in the region. The co-sponsors of the competition include leading companies like ElementK Middle East, Sites Power, Symantec, Cisco and VISA International.

The five topics of the competition include eCommerce, eFinance, Networking, Online Security and programming.. Participant registration will be open from November 1 and they can respond to the questionnaires till November 30 2005. An award presentation and gala dinner will be held to award the eventual winners.

Launching the LearnOnline Challenge 2005, Abdulla Hashim, Senior Manager, eCompany, said:

'eCompany through LearnOnline has been very active in promoting the adoption of the Internet as a productive tool for learning and skills development in the UAE. The use of eLearning can improve the effectiveness of learning and enables learners to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge for their job and personal development, which has a direct influence on a country's competitiveness and economic growth.'

'We were very happy with the response we've received from the public and our partners starting with the launch of the first challenge last year and we would like to build on that in order to provide an attractive opportunity for aspirants to test their skills and ingenuity in the 2005 edition of the LearnOnline challenge.'

According to Samer Karawi, Marketing Manager, Enterprise and Corporate Communication, HP Middle East, 'HP believes that education is the most critical factor to drive progress and wealth in the region and the LearnOnline Challenge is a leading initiative aimed at making knowledge available to everyone and at anytime. We are pleased to support such an innovative contest, and happy to see the amount of interest and engagement this contest has generated among the population. In the region HP has implemented a host of e-learning solutions and is committed to taking educational programmes to the next level of development. eCompany has shown tremendous foresight by working with key industry players to provide new drivers to increase PC penetration and internet usage which in turn helps developing the economy and market forces.'

According to Dr. Gaith Kadir, BDE MEA Area Manager , AMD, ' AMD is very pleased to join HP in supporting this initiative by eCompany to encourage the local community to use the Internet in their daily lives. New technology approaches and platforms are needed to meet the unique requirements and economic limitations of high-growth and developing markets like the UAE. We have a commitment to this region and its community to provide these requirements.'