Online learning can revolutionise companies

According to Khaja, regional companies are starting to embrace an online drive in learning. He said: "E-learning can create huge changes in an organisation, from the culture of studying through to the way managers run their departments.

"It is inevitable that this level of change will face some resistance, but the most effective way to develop an integrated e-learning strategy is to show a bottom-line benefit."

He believes that e-learning should be used as with all technology - to improve operations within an existing framework.

"Online learning is not just about using electronic words instead of text books: practice environments, intranets and performance support systems all fall into the e-learning category. E-learning is using technology to assist learning, and should ultimately result in improved performance," explained Khaja.

As part of a human resources industry drive to promote e-learning in Arabia, Khaja has booked Stefaan van Hooydonk to give a bonus session at October's IHRArabia.com conference.

Van Hooydonk, a key strategist in international e-learning. He said: "Online learning is not about taking a course and putting it on the desktop. It is about a new blend of resources, interactivity, performance support and structured learning activities."

He was formerly e-learning director for Nokia, and was a driving force behind the company's goal of introducing mobile learning and 'edu-gaming" to users around the world.

Van Hooydonk will debate a number of issues with delegates, such as the most effective deployment of e-learning in the corporate world, aligning e-learning with business bottom-line, and the adaptation of online learning to different cultures.

knet is an independent training and management consultancy, and specialises in live speaker seminars and business conferences including IHR Arabia. It provides access to a network of international, regional and local organisations, such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development, Institute of Administrative Management, and the Institute of Leadership and Management as well as the Masters Certificate in Project Management from Regis University.