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Sorry, I could not read the content fromt this page.London, UK (PRWEB) June 01, 2012
For all the BRIC countries, macroeconomic growth, expected to attract investment in a variety of industries, will benefit infrastructure construction market and, in particular, rail and road infrastructure construction.Supported by the economic growth, Brazil’s rail and road infrastructure construction is likely to record high growth, with projected CAGRs of 11.62% and 8.58% respectively over the forecast period. The Russian rail and road infrastructure construction industry is forecast to keep on expanding rapidly over the forecast period, due to various infrastructure projects planned for the 2012 APEC summit, the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In India, high investment and an increasing focus on infrastructure development and rapid urbanization are the key factors expected to fuel the growth of the country’s rail and road infrastructure construction sector. In China, the government’s 12th five-year plan (2011–2015) involves an investment of USD 1.03 trillion in urban public facilities, including rail and road construction.
New market research study “Business Opportunities in the Rail and Road Infrastructure Construction Industry in BRIC” developed by BRICdata has been recently published by Market Publishers Ltd.
Report Details:
Title: Business Opportunities in the Rail and Road Infrastructure Construction Industry in BRIC
Published: May, 2012
Pages: 252
Price: US$ 2,950.00
http://marketpublishers.com/report/industry/construction/business_opportunities_in_rail_n_road_infrastructure_construction_industry_in_bric.html
The research study provides true and unbiased insights into the rail and road infrastructure construction market in the BRIC countries – Brazil, Russia, India and China, and covers:
Companies discussed include: Andrade Gutierrez SA, InterCement Participacoes SA, Mostotrest OAO, PJSC Yuzhtruboprovodstroy, NCC Ltd, Gammon India Ltd, IRB Infrastructure Developers Ltd, Hindustan Construction Co. Ltd, China Railway Construction Corporation Ltd, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd, Shanghai Urban Construction (Group) Corporation, Shanghai Construction Group Co.
Report Contents:
1 Executive Summary
2 BRIC Countries Comparison
2.1 Rail Infrastructure Construction – Industry Attractiveness
2.2 Road Infrastructure Construction – Industry Attractiveness
2.3 Macroeconomic Drivers
3 Brazil
3.1 Analyst Opinion and Future Outlook
3.2 Infrastructure Construction Market Dynamics
3.2.1 Market share of transport infrastructure
3.2.2 Key trends and emerging area in rail and road infrastructure
3.2.3 Regulation
3.3 Analysis of Market Drivers
3.3.1 Economic activity
3.3.2 The 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games
3.3.3 Government spending
3.3.4 Metro rail projects to drive growth
3.3.5 Poor road networks provides significant growth opportunity
3.4 Brazilian Rail Infrastructure Construction – Market Opportunity
3.4.1 Rail infrastructure construction output by construction activity
3.4.2 Rail infrastructure construction output by cost type
3.5 Brazilian Road Infrastructure Construction – Market Opportunity
3.5.1 Road infrastructure construction output by construction activity
3.5.2 Road infrastructure construction output by cost type
3.6 Key Brazilian Rail and Road Infrastructure Construction Projects
3.6.1 MoT – Cuiaba–Santarem Rail Link
3.6.2 ANTT – High-Speed Railway System – Rio de Janeiro
3.6.3 Other key projects
3.7 Industry Structure and Competitive Landscape
3.7.1 Industry structure
3.7.2 Major companies
3.8 Business and Operational Strategy
4 Russia
4.1 Analyst Opinion and Future Outlook
4.2 Infrastructure Construction Market Dynamics
4.2.1 Market share of transport infrastructure
4.2.2 Key trends and emerging areas
4.2.3 Regulation
4.3 Analysis of Market Drivers
4.3.1 Economic activity
4.3.2 Reforms undertaken by the government
4.3.3 PPPs in infrastructure development
4.3.4 Major international sporting events
4.4 Russian Rail Infrastructure Construction – Market Opportunity
4.4.1 Rail infrastructure construction market by construction activity
4.4.2 Rail infrastructure construction market by cost type
4.5 Road Infrastructure Construction – Market Opportunity
4.5.1 Road infrastructure construction market by construction activity
4.5.2 Road Infrastructure construction market by cost type
4.6 Key Russian Rail and Road Infrastructure Construction Projects
4.6.1 Project name: GoKR – Yenisei River Bridge Development – Krasnoyarsk
4.6.2 Project name: RZD – North-Siberian Railway Line – Russia
4.6.3 Project name: MoTC – Western Europe to Western China Highway
4.6.4 Other key projects
4.7 Industry Structure and Competitiveness
4.7.1 Industry structure
4.7.2 Major companies
4.8 Business and Operational Strategy
5 India
5.1 Analyst Opinion and Future Outlook
5.2 Infrastructure Construction Market Dynamics
5.2.1 Market share of transport infrastructure
5.2.2 Key trends and emerging areas
...
More new research studies by the publisher can be found at BRICdata page.
Tanya Rezler
TD The Market Publishers, Ltd
+44 208 144 6009
Email Information
MetaVu helps clients identify product and business risks and opportunities associated with increasing environmental awareness and regulation in the markets they serve. Increasing environmental awareness and regulation can change the demand for client products and services dramatically and quickly. MetaVu's Product and Business Innovation Practice helps clients identify risks that their products and/or businesses could fall victim to substitutes with lower environmental impact and develop and/or acquire products and businesses that opportunistically satisfy future customer needs, environmental preferences and environmental regulations.
Xcel Energy Renewable Distributed Generation (DG) Market Strategy
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Shaw Industries Sustainability Strategy Framework
Shaw Industries, one of the world’s largest carpet manufacturers, retained MetaVu to help define and advance the client’s Sustainability Strategy. Using proprietary processes, MetaVu identified opportunities to increase shareholder value throughout the business value chain. In this particular engagement, product and business innovation strategies represented the greatest earnings opportunities. MetaVu's recommendations included conducting Life Cycle Assessments on products, integrating sustainable business concepts into the client’s innovation platform, educating the market/sales force/sales channels on client sustainability efforts, and advancing the role client products played in helping customers achieve their own environmental goals (such as LEED certification for new commercial construction).
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SAN DIEGO, March 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- LPL Financial LLC, the nation's largest independent broker-dealer* and a wholly owned subsidiary of LPL Investment Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: LPLA - News), today announced several key findings from a new study examining the role of investment services and insurance customers at retail financial institutions. The study, "The Value of an Investment and Insurance Customer to a Bank," was conducted by Kenneth and Christine Kehrer and Peter Bielan, and was co-sponsored by LPL Financial.
Among the key findings of the study include:
Households that buy investments and insurance where they bank are among a retail financial institution's most profitable and desirable customers;Such customers are more likely to stay with that institution than customers with multiple banking relationships; andBy under-investing in their investment and insurance services businesses, retail financial institutions are missing the opportunity to increase the stickiness of these highly desirable customers."I have been very excited about the opportunity for LPL Financial to sponsor this study, which was specifically designed to help institutions see the opportunity that exists from a successful and growing investment and insurance program," said Andy Kalbaugh, managing director and president of LPL Financial's Institution Services division.
"Intuitively, many executives at financial institutions have believed in the strategic importance of the investment and insurance services customer. But until now there has not been a source of industry data to test this belief, and this appears to have led to under-investment by banks and credit unions in their investment and insurance services capabilities," added Kenneth Kehrer, Ph. D, founder of Kehrer-LIMRA and co-author of the study.
Additional findings of "The Value of an Investment and Insurance Customer to a Bank" include:
Consumers who have purchased an investment or insurance product from their primary bank or credit union have checking account balances that are 16 percent higher than those households without a brokerage or insurance relationship; Brokerage customers have savings account balances that are on average 85 percent higher than non-brokerage customers; andBrokerage and insurance customers have more than twice as many credit products and 11 percent more remote banking products than customers who have not purchased an investment or insurance product from their primary bank or credit union."At LPL Financial Institution Services, our support and value proposition is designed to help advisors, program managers and the financial institution achieve more household penetration and grow wallet share from each and every client relationship, and is unmatched by any other provider focused on the financial institution space," Mr. Kalbaugh concluded.
LPL Financial Institution Services provides third-party investment and insurance services to approximately 670 banks and credit unions nationwide, including unbiased product expertise, proven program management, and a choice of clearing solutions – all tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. Banks and credit unions that wish to learn more about LPL Financial's services or the potential fit within their organization are encouraged to reach out to Darlene Cain, Assistant Vice President, at (704) 733-3580 or darlene.cain@lpl.com, to identify the business consulting associate who supports their territory.
The new study draws on data from the MacroMonitor, the largest comprehensive retail financial-services and marketing database that has measured, analyzed, and interpreted consumer attitudes, behaviors, and motivations continuously since 1978. The 2010/2011 MacroMonitor is a national sample survey of 4,374 households, with an oversample of 1,500 affluent households, reweighted to be representative of the U.S. population. This comprehensive survey is conducted every other year by the Consumer Financial Decisions Group of Strategic Business Insights, formerly part of SRI International.
About LPL Financial
LPL Financial, a wholly owned subsidiary of LPL Investment Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: LPLA - News), is the nation's largest independent broker-dealer (based on total revenues, Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2011), a top RIA custodian, and a leading independent consultant to retirement plans. LPL Financial offers proprietary technology, comprehensive clearing and compliance services, practice management programs and training, and independent research to more than 12,800 financial advisors and approximately 670 financial institutions. In addition, LPL Financial supports over 4,000 financial advisors licensed with insurance companies by providing customized clearing, advisory platforms and technology solutions. LPL Financial and its affiliates have more than 2,700 employees with headquarters in Boston, Charlotte, and San Diego. For more information, please visit www.lpl.com.
Securities offered through LPL Financial. Member FINRA/SIPC
*Based on total revenues, Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2011
LPLA-C
LPL Financial Institution Services Contact
Craig Kamis
Senior Vice President, Business Development
(704) 733-3917
craig.kamis@lpl.com
LPL Financial Media Contact
Michael Herley
Kekst and Company
(212) 521-4897
michael-herley@kekst.com
SAN DIEGO, March 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- LPL Financial LLC, the nation's largest independent broker-dealer* and a wholly owned subsidiary of LPL Investment Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: LPLA - News), today announced several key findings from a new study examining the role of investment services and insurance customers at retail financial institutions. The study, "The Value of an Investment and Insurance Customer to a Bank," was conducted by Kenneth and Christine Kehrer and Peter Bielan, and was co-sponsored by LPL Financial.
Among the key findings of the study include:
Households that buy investments and insurance where they bank are among a retail financial institution's most profitable and desirable customers;Such customers are more likely to stay with that institution than customers with multiple banking relationships; andBy under-investing in their investment and insurance services businesses, retail financial institutions are missing the opportunity to increase the stickiness of these highly desirable customers."I have been very excited about the opportunity for LPL Financial to sponsor this study, which was specifically designed to help institutions see the opportunity that exists from a successful and growing investment and insurance program," said Andy Kalbaugh, managing director and president of LPL Financial's Institution Services division.
"Intuitively, many executives at financial institutions have believed in the strategic importance of the investment and insurance services customer. But until now there has not been a source of industry data to test this belief, and this appears to have led to under-investment by banks and credit unions in their investment and insurance services capabilities," added Kenneth Kehrer, Ph. D, founder of Kehrer-LIMRA and co-author of the study.
Additional findings of "The Value of an Investment and Insurance Customer to a Bank" include:
Consumers who have purchased an investment or insurance product from their primary bank or credit union have checking account balances that are 16 percent higher than those households without a brokerage or insurance relationship; Brokerage customers have savings account balances that are on average 85 percent higher than non-brokerage customers; andBrokerage and insurance customers have more than twice as many credit products and 11 percent more remote banking products than customers who have not purchased an investment or insurance product from their primary bank or credit union."At LPL Financial Institution Services, our support and value proposition is designed to help advisors, program managers and the financial institution achieve more household penetration and grow wallet share from each and every client relationship, and is unmatched by any other provider focused on the financial institution space," Mr. Kalbaugh concluded.
LPL Financial Institution Services provides third-party investment and insurance services to approximately 670 banks and credit unions nationwide, including unbiased product expertise, proven program management, and a choice of clearing solutions – all tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. Banks and credit unions that wish to learn more about LPL Financial's services or the potential fit within their organization are encouraged to reach out to Darlene Cain, Assistant Vice President, at (704) 733-3580 or darlene.cain@lpl.com, to identify the business consulting associate who supports their territory.
The new study draws on data from the MacroMonitor, the largest comprehensive retail financial-services and marketing database that has measured, analyzed, and interpreted consumer attitudes, behaviors, and motivations continuously since 1978. The 2010/2011 MacroMonitor is a national sample survey of 4,374 households, with an oversample of 1,500 affluent households, reweighted to be representative of the U.S. population. This comprehensive survey is conducted every other year by the Consumer Financial Decisions Group of Strategic Business Insights, formerly part of SRI International.
About LPL Financial
LPL Financial, a wholly owned subsidiary of LPL Investment Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: LPLA - News), is the nation's largest independent broker-dealer (based on total revenues, Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2011), a top RIA custodian, and a leading independent consultant to retirement plans. LPL Financial offers proprietary technology, comprehensive clearing and compliance services, practice management programs and training, and independent research to more than 12,800 financial advisors and approximately 670 financial institutions. In addition, LPL Financial supports over 4,000 financial advisors licensed with insurance companies by providing customized clearing, advisory platforms and technology solutions. LPL Financial and its affiliates have more than 2,700 employees with headquarters in Boston, Charlotte, and San Diego. For more information, please visit www.lpl.com.
Securities offered through LPL Financial. Member FINRA/SIPC
*Based on total revenues, Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2011
LPLA-C
LPL Financial Institution Services Contact
Craig Kamis
Senior Vice President, Business Development
(704) 733-3917
craig.kamis@lpl.com
LPL Financial Media Contact
Michael Herley
Kekst and Company
(212) 521-4897
michael-herley@kekst.com
The development of cloud computing will promote economic growth, increase productivity and shift the type of jobs and skills required by businesses, according to a new study by the London School of Economics and Political Science.
The LSE study selected two industries, aerospace and smartphone services, and examined the impact of cloud computing on these industries across the UK, USA, Germany and Italy between the years 2010 and 2014. The LSE study was underwritten by Microsoft.
Investing in cloud computing is contributing to growth and job creation in both the fast-growing, high-tech smartphone services industry as well as the longstanding and slow-growth aerospace sector, the study claims. In addition, cloud is directly creating employment through the construction, staffing and supply of data centers, which will host the cloud. Using cloud computing enables businesses of all sizes to be more productive by freeing managerial staff and skilled employees to concentrate on more profitable areas of work.
There will be a new range of employment opportunities opening up as a result of the shift to cloud as well. As the study points out, “as firms shift from proprietary application servers towards virtualization and cloud computing, related skills will be in demand among employers. New direct hires and upskilling for public cloud enablement result in higher-than-average salaries.”
Of the countries analyzed in the study, the US is leading the way in terms of cloud job creation. US cloud-related jobs in the smartphone sector are set to grow to 54,500 in 2014. This is compared to a projected 4,040 equivalent jobs in the UK. The authors of the study say that this can be attributed, in part, to lower electricity costs and less restrictive labor regulation compared to Europe.
Small to medium-size businesses will benefit as well. In the smartphone sector alone, “cloud computing will form the basis for a rapid expansion and high-start-up rate among SMEs 2010-2014 in all four markets in services,” the study says.
The study also shows that there is in fact little risk of unemployment from investing in the cloud, as companies are more likely to move and re-train current staff. This would be alongside the hiring of new staff, likely to be in a higher salary bracket, who have the necessary skills for using virtual data-handling systems.
But researchers found that the level of impact the cloud has on a business or department’s growth and productivity depends on a number of factors, primarily the type of sector in which the business is involved and the regulatory environment in which it operates.
Unsurprisingly, the cloud has a much greater effect on the web-centred smartphone services industry than traditional high tech manufacturing, with expansion and a high-start-up rate among small and medium size businesses in 2010-2014 forecast. For example, in the UK from 2010 through 2014, the rate of growth in cloud-related jobs in the smartphone services sector is set to be 349%, compared to 52% growth in aerospace. German, Italian and US equivalent growth rates will be 280% vs 33%, 268% vs 36% and 168% vs 57% respectively.
The study’s authors, Jonathan Liebenau, Patrik Karrberg, Alexander Grous and Daniel Castro, also talk about the direct and indirect employment and business opportunities that will stem from cloud, which may not be apparent at first. “Our analysis shows jobs shifting from distributed data processing facilities to consolidated data centers, resulting in a drop in data processing jobs overall as efficiency gains occur especially through public cloud services,” they write. “We see a reduction in IT administrators within large firms in smartphone businesses (and most likely in many other similar sectors) compared to their level of employment otherwise expected by taking into account overall IT spending.”
They add that direct and indirect employment gains will be seen in the construction of new data centers needed to accommodate the public cloud businesses, and an “unanticipated effect is in job creation of site maintenance, janitorial staff and security guards in newly built data centers. Overall, more than 30% of short-term new employment in cloud services originates from the construction of data centers and outfitting them accounts for around another third.” Almost 25% of new jobs accrue from direct employment in public cloud services firms, they add.
Then there’s the “cloud dividend” that enterprises will see as the cloud infrastructure develops. These gains will be “in the form of shifting
the work of existing IT staff towards general administrative responsibilities and strategic management rather than exploiting short-term payroll reduction opportunities. Herein lies one of the main new skills challenges to the existing labor force.”
(Full PDF of the study, Modelling the Cloud: Employment Effects in Two Exemplary Sectors in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy, available from the LSE Website.)
NEW YORK, Jan. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Top women business leaders spoke at 218 unique events in 2011. These conference opportunities included a mix of women's and non-gender specific forums – including CEO-only conferences, global and policy summits, and industry events, according to Weber Shandwick's latest "Top Executive Conferences" study.
Given the importance of leadership communications, Weber Shandwick conducts global research annually on the executive leadership conference landscape. In this year's installment, the firm examined the speaking engagements of the world's top women business leaders, based on Fortune's 2011 Most Powerful Women (MPW) list (50 women executives who are U.S.-based and 50 women who are not U.S.-based).
The majority of women (69 percent) on the list spoke at one or more conferences in 2011. On average, these top-ranking women spoke at 2.7 conferences over the course of 12 months. U.S.- and non-U.S. based women were nearly just as likely to speak, confirming that women all over the globe recognize the value of conference visibility.
"Women executives are establishing their rightful place at the table, gaining greater stature and notoriety in the business world. As such, they are becoming vital members on the conference circuit, increasing participation and prominence in this powerful venue," said Micho Spring, chair of Weber Shandwick's Global Corporate practice.
The leading speaking forums in 2011 for these top women executives included Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit, The World Economic Forum/Davos, India-US CEO Forum, Women Corporate Director's Global Institute, the Paley Center for Media International Council Summit and the APEC Women and the Economy Summit.
A categorization of all conferences found that these executives spoke primarily at industry-specific events (e.g., World Food Prize Conference and FICCI-IBI Conference on Global Banking) and conferences geared toward job function (e.g., Techonomy and ANA Conference), followed by women's leadership and academic forums. Our research found that the digital category (e.g., Digital Life Design and South by Southwest) of conferences crossed prominent women business leaders' radar screens in 2011, though participation was still low. Perhaps the greater concentration of industry- and job function-related conferences hints at the importance for leading executives to speak before audiences containing potential prospects and customers.
Types of 2011 Global MPW Speaking Venues*(in rank order)The World Food Prize, FICCI-IBI Conference on Global BankingWSJ Women in the Economy, Women in Leadership Forum AsiaStanford University Entrepreneur Bootcamp, MIT Sloan Innovation Leader SeriesThe White House Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, Commonwealth Business ForumChief Executive's Club of Boston, Detroit Economic ClubAPEC CEO Summit, Forbes Global CEO ConferenceDigital Life Design Conference, SXSW*Rank based on number of types of conferences regardless of how many Most Powerful Women (MPW) from Fortune's list spoke at each
"Executives not only personify the company but are the company's most influential storytellers. Weber Shandwick's new Top Executive Conferences study helps define the context in which senior women business leaders are seen and heard. The strategic use of the conference landscape to promote a company's story is a powerful tool that when fully leveraged can move the business forward," said Carol Ballock, executive vice president at Weber Shandwick.
For more information, please contact Carol Ballock at 212.445.8124 or cballock@webershandwick.com. You can also visit www.webershandwick.com.
You may download the executive summary at: http://www.webershandwick.com/topconferences.
About the Research
Weber Shandwick began with the U.S. and Global lists of the 2011 Fortune's Most Powerful Women in Business. This is a list of 50 women from U.S.-based companies and 50 women from non-U.S. companies. For each woman on the list, Weber Shandwick examined her speaking engagements during 2011. Weber Shandwick audited company websites for conference participation and searched media using Factiva. Company meetings and shareholder presentations were excluded. Weber Shandwick also analyzed the agendas of the highest ranking conferences to determine the topics these Most Powerful Women spoke about.
About Weber Shandwick's Executive Equity & Visibility Services
Executive Equity & Visibility is a component of Weber's Shandwick's Enterprise Brand Activation Strategy which includes Corporate Storytelling, Executive Equity & Visibility, Amplification & Engagement, and establishing third-party Credentials & Recognition.
About Weber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick is a leading global public relations agency with offices in 81 countries around the world. The firm's success is built on its deep commitment to client service, our people, creativity, collaboration and harnessing the power of Advocates - engaging stakeholders in new and creative ways to build brands and reputation. Weber Shandwick provides strategy and execution across practices such as consumer marketing, healthcare, technology, public affairs, financial services, corporate and crisis management. Its specialized services include digital/social media, advocacy advertising, market research, and corporate responsibility. In 2010, Weber Shandwick was named Global Agency of the Year by The Holmes Report for the second year in a row; an 'Agency of the Decade' by Advertising Age, Large PR Agency of the Year by Bulldog Reporter, a Digital Firm of the Year by PR News, and Top Corporate Responsibility Advisory Firm by CR Magazine. The firm has also won numerous 'best place to work' awards around the world. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG - News). For more information, visit http://www.webershandwick.com.
Rachel Manfredo
Weber Shandwick
212.445.8171
rmanfredo@webershandwick.com
Minneapolis, Minnesota (PRWEB) January 12, 2012 New research from UNICON (International University Consortium for Executive Education) reveals that many business schools across the globe have untapped opportunities to provide innovative executive education learning programs facilitated by mobile technology. The UNICON report, Going mobile in executive education, is based on research conducted by UNICON member Ashridge Business School in the United Kingdom. It analyzes the potential impact of mobile technologies on the executive education learning landscape around the world. The report looks at mobile learning, and how portable technologies -- smartphones , PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), handheld computers and personal media players -- can support and extend the reach of teaching and learning.
The report finds that some learning providers are embracing mobile learning and developing new approaches to learning. Included in the report are detailed case studies of: Abilene Christian University (USA), The Open University (UK), Ashridge Business School (UK), Harvard Business School (USA), Seton Hill University (USA), IMD (Switzerland), EPIC, (UK), and Skill Pill, University of Cape Town (South Africa).
While the research highlights examples of innovative applications of mobile learning in business schools, universities and the private sector around the globe, it concludes that many more executive education providers today could be maximizing the vast potential of mobile devices for learning.
The future of executive education is about choice and personalisation. Our survey makes clear that providers should not wait for the industry to settle, said UNICON Chairman Bill Shedden, who also serves as Director of the Centre for Customised Executive Education at the Cranfield School of Management in Bedford, England. Our recent State of the Industry survey also found that while many executive education providers are moving cautiously, they have begun experimenting with technology and in many cases are taking more technology initiative than clients expect or demand. In other words, executive education clients look to university-based providers to help them understand what new technology is important.
The global nature of businesses and the growing capabilities of powerful mobile devices mean that adopting new technologies in learning is essential to continuing to attract clients in the competitive executive education market, Shedden continued. UNICON is dedicated to helping its members learn more about how to effectively adopt new technologies and to remain industry leaders in university-based executive education programs around the globe.
Mobile technology can help provide executives with pre- and post-course support, and the latest mobile learning applications can extend their access to a multimedia-rich education. It also provides a means for participants to stay connected with one another as professional resources after a program ends. Other benefits of mobile learning identified by the report include:
Just enough learning highly applied, easily digestible learning for busy executives. Just-in-time learning convenient, flexible and relevant learning at the exact moment learning is required. Just-for-me learning learning can be accessed via mobile devices in many different ways, which means that there are opportunities for it to appeal to many different learning styles. Mobile devices can facilitate collaboration. SMS texting reminders, knowledge sharing forums and ask a question forums enable and enhance interaction between participants and instructors.
Research Fellow at Ashridge Business School and UNICON report co-author Dr Carina Paine Schofield noted, Advances in mobile technologies and high levels of mobile phone penetration are changing the way that learning is being adopted and used in educational contexts, and it has evolved into more than e-learning with a phone. Mobile learning offers easier access to learning materials so students can be more productive with their time. It empowers executive education providers to serve up learning in multiple formats audio, visual or text to suit individual learning styles.
Ashridge Business School was one of the first executive education providers to establish an online learning resource. Its online learning platform, Virtual Ashridge, lets students home in on certain interests and choose a style of learning that fits their personality without information overload: some may want to listen to an audio file or read text, while others may want to take part in an online discussion.
Director of Learning Services at Ashridge Business School Tony Sheehan said: Mobile learning offers a powerful opportunity to introduce learning on demand. It allows individuals to connect to executive education at a time that suits them and in a way that can support current business challenges. Learners are no longer dependent on the classroom, as mobile devices allow learners to connect in times of reflection a long train journey, a daily commute where the mind is alert and open to new insights.
During these times of austerity, mobile and e-learning tutorials also provide a cost- and time-efficient way of educating staff that avoids the travel and accommodation costs of off-site courses, Sheehan added.
About UNICON
Founded in 1972 as an association of executive education program directors, UNICON has evolved from an informal common-interest group into an incorporated non-profit consortium committed to advancing the field of university- and business school-sponsored executive education. Membership is composed of nearly 100 educational institutions from the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa.
UNICON is committed to the principle that academically based executive education provides a combination of thought-leadership at the highest levels of rigor, masterful learning environments and practical application that cannot be replicated by non-academic providers.
The organization sponsors and conducts research studies that bring to the forefront this unique value of business-school-based executive education. It also provides industry/operational knowledge and networking opportunities for members through conferences, workshops, research, benchmarking, website, newsletters, job postings, discussion boards and forums and other activities.
The UNICON report, Going mobile in executive education: how mobile technologies are changing the executive learning landscape, was written by Dr. Carina Paine Schofield, Trudi West and Emily Taylor of Ashridge Business School.
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Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/1/prweb9097448.htm.
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