What is the key for succeeding in the future?

It is a strong objective for the Singapore Government to prepare Singapore for succeeding in the New Economy which will require its knowledge workers and managers to be able to work as an integral part of a technologically savvy global workforce.

The University of Queensland helps prepare the way for this by offering a Masters degree in Technology Management and E-Business in Singapore in cooperation with the Singapore Institute of Management. Even the teaching process is practice for the environment that most of the managers and executives will encounter in the high tech jobs that are offered now and in the future and that is by means of the University of Queensland's E-Learning system.

The E-Learning system allows Singaporeans to share their ideas with fellow students in Hong Kong and Australia, where they can learn from the experiences and knowledge on what the latest opportunities are. They can also develop a network of contacts with other promising executives and managers who are working their way wisely into the New Economy.

Most busy executives and managers do not have the time to take away from their jobs or family life, so that they can dedicate it to developing these skills and qualifications. This is the true benefit of the E-Learning process, for it allows them to plan their work and home life without having to attend hours of lectures on a weekly basis in listening to lectures. The course presentation is planned for the knowledge workers who have busy travel schedules and demanding lifestyles. Some students travel up to 70% of their time and can still succeed at getting great value out of the course material and study.

After a one-time intensive lecture series for each course, which consists of several evenings and a Saturday, the student can work with the web-based learning system.

This gives them access their learning material, undertake their assignments, share ideas, do collaborative work with professors and fellow learners and coordinate their learning at their pace and convenience.The learning process is not just limited to the classroom, but actually
to where the learner works or at home allowing them to apply what they learn directly to their job.

In fact, many of the assignments are focused around the learner's job and the problems that they meet. The application of technology and E-Business solutions are developed to enable them to rely on the on-line access to learning material, the University professors and coaching staff, and other learning managers and executives within the program. In this way, they can share their challenges and listen to the suggestions and ideas of managers over the web-based forums or chat sessions where these ideas are freely shared and discussed. This helps them to apply their learning to the real-life circumstances of the environment, in which they are working.

One of the students had just started the program in Australia and was re-assigned to Singapore, where he travels Asia and North America frequently. He said, "I would not be able to do this with any other program, since I'm not in any one place long enough to take the classes required for them." Other students, who are just starting families or working hard at careers, cannot take the time out to follow the rigid schedules of weekly in-class sessions. Their time is valuable and the E-Learning program allows them to balance their course learning with their other duties as parents, employees and a social life.

The E-Learning based program is not experimental, but has been successfully run in Australia and Hong Kong for several years. Over this time, many high practical techniques have been introduced to assure that the student gains the most value out of the learning process. Round table sessions are formed with local and visiting executives who address the students on their perceptions of opportunities and challenges and discuss their experiences in managing technology and E-Business. This enables the learners to understand some of the best practices that are now being used by various other companies in this 'New Economy' environment. The solutions of these practicing executives may not always agree with the theory and principles learned in academic learning but the combination of these experiences and theory adds greater value to the learning process.