Barriers in corporate e-learning
By ROZANA SANI - CompuTimes 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. Copyright © The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad
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