International Center for Distance Learning Newsletter   Volume I Issue 1, April 2001 ICDL: The Way we Were, The Way We Are, The Way we Go The International Center for Distance learning was established in 1998 to provide access to distance learning courses through a Web database. Since its inception, the database that serves as a clearing house for distance learning offerings has grown steadily and now represents 13,000 active courses and 185 accredited colleges and universities. The initial concepts intended to build a database and offer courses through a Web portal using an e-commerce structure remains in place. Since its founding in 1998 change at ICDL has been on-going. Much of that change has been evolutionary and to some extent revolutionary. Today the ICDL is well positioned, through it franchising structure, to respond to learning needs worldwide. In the processes of change the company has evolved from a clearinghouse for distance learning courses to and education and training solutions company. What began as a "dot.com" is now an integrated product and service organization using the tools of technology to support communication, management and delivery. Our focus has broadened and deepened. As a result, we have been able to capture the interest and support of a number of important strategic partners. Raytheon Corporation expressed interest in serving as a franchise partner in countries where they have an offset requirement. Kuwait was targeted as the first Raytheon/ICDL partnership. Interest in developing a distance learning initiative in Kuwait has been further supported by our other partners, United Sources Inc. and Pearson Education. An invitation has been extended to ICDL and Raytheon to visit Kuwait to meet with the new Minister of Education in order to advance the franchise agreement. The Global Management Corporation - Trade Information Network (GMC-TIN) has played a major role in brokering relationships worldwide in support of ICDL franchises. The organization with its links to the G-77 Conference, United Nations and World Chambers of Commerce has been a very influential partner in the promotion of ICDL franchises. What factors make us unique? The following highlights reflect on the strengths of the company and the foundation from which we intend to build education and training solutions worldwide.   We:   Have established a well-defined infrastructure for international franchises that includes videoconferencing to support communications, management, training and education.   Have established an ICDL virtual university model to serve as a customized portal for education and training offered through each site.   Produce a distance-learning magazine designed for the learner that will be available in the predominant language of each franchise site. Self-directed learning modules can be inserted as appropriate to the needs of selected audiences.   Have established mechanisms to bring academic institutions and content and service-providers into greater participation in serving global learning needs.   Are building relationships that support sustaining education and training interests at each site. Our predominant role in managing franchises once established includes: marketing, brokering education and training solutions, training and administration of e-commerce and e-management structures. Videoconferencing will bridge communications between sites and provide a conduit for training and management. Over the past several months we have worked to redefine the company in order to be positioned for franchise development. We have strengthened our infrastructure, reorganized many functional areas of the company and developed strategic relationships with provider partners. The ICDL team has completed these efforts internally. "Focus" has been a key word at ICDL these past few months and mountains are beginning to move. We are encouraged by the results of our activities specifically those related to our emerging franchising efforts, partnership development and inquiries. As we respond to the needs of our first franchise we will work to reinforce the structure and principles that will be replicated in future franchises so that we can deliver a quality turnkey operation. Trends in the Industry Projected Expenditures for Education and Training   According to International Data Corp. (IDC) worldwide revenues in the corporate e-learning market will surpass $23 billion by the year 2004 up from $2 billion the end of 1999. Factors influencing these increases include: greater acceptance of e learning by corporations, increasing Internet usage, more reliable connections and decreasing telecommunications costs. Primary content in the corporate community is IT training representing 72% of courses offered. Other content is now emerging and is quickly taken prominence over IT as the primary focus for on-line learning. While growth in on-line learning has been steady in business and industry other sectors are also growing rapidly. Presently 1,500 colleges and universities are engaged in on-line learning and that number is expected to more than double to 3,300 by 2004. Note: The ICDL database is steadily expanding to include courses offered by colleges and universities and business and industry. A Shift in Focus Lends Support to Education and Training   Historically, education and training is the first budget area to get the ax during times of economic downturn. This was especially true during the 80"s and early 90's. But today we are seeing a shift in perception as business skills are increasingly seen as critical to success. Education and training is more and more being seen as a key strategic success factor with direct impact on the bottom line. An ASTD study of 575 publicly traded companies found a clear correlation between levels of training investment and financial indicators such as total shareholder return, gross profit margin, income per employee and price -to-book ratios. Training has also been linked to recruitment, retention and competitive edge in what has been a "sellers" market. With the increasing demand to maintain currency, many companies are looking to more cost effective ways to manage their training budgets. Distance learning including videoconferencing are quickly emerging as attractive options for an increasing number of companies. Note: ICDL offers courses through a variety of distance learning methodologies including video-conferencing. Happy E-mail McDonald’s, another well-known franchise, has opened its first Internet café in Romania. Now customers will be able to surf the net while eating their burgers and fries. Depending upon the success of the first café others will be added. Two IT companies in Romania supports the effort. Cost of set up is $40,000 per McDonalds. Note: Access to the ICDL Web sites is expected to increase in countries where public access to the Internet is readily available. In Pakistan Internet access is provided at gasoline stations. Quote “ I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that he has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” -Booker T. Washington