The global outlook series on Distance Learning provides statistical anecdotes, market briefs, and concise summaries of research findings. The report offers an aerial view of the global distance learning industry, identifies major short to medium term market challenges, and growth drivers. Regional markets elaborated upon include United States, Japan, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Australia, India, China, Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and Brazil. Also included is an indexed, easy-to-refer, fact-finder directory listing the addresses, and contact details of 120 companies worldwide. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

DISTANCE LEARNING				GOS-231
A GLOBAL OUTLOOK, OCTOBER 2009


                                      CONTENTS



  1. INDUSTRY OVERVIEW                                                     1
      Significance of Distance Learning                                    1
      Students Enrolling in Distance Learning Programs                     1
       Table 1: Global Distance Learning Market (2007): Percentage
       Breakdown of Distance Learning Students by Age Group - Under
       30, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, and Others                                 1
       Advantages and Disadvantages of Distance Learning                   2
      Types of Learning Delivery Modes and Their Characteristics           2
      Advantages of Overseas Distance Learning                             3
      Why e-Learning?                                                      3
       Advantages of e-Learning                                            3
      Various Levels of e-Learning                                         3
      e-Learning Vendors - An Overview                                     4
       Content Providers                                                   4
       Service Providers                                                   4
       Technology Providers                                                4
      m-Learning: e-Learning on the Move                                   5
      Disadvantages of Online Distance Learning                            5
      Factors Restraining Growth of Online or e-Learning Programs          5
       Development of Effective Content Material                           5
       Availability of Hardware & Networking Infrastructure                5
       Rapidly Changing Technological Environment                          5
       Absence of Skilled Trainers                                         5

  2. DISTANCE LEARNING: ORGANIZATIONAL PERSPECTIVE                         6
      Distance Learning Courses: An Ideal Alternative for Companies
       and Executives                                                      6
       Distance Learning for Employee Training                             6
       Significance of Corporate e-Learning                                6
        Table 2: Global Corporate e-Learning Market (2007-2010):
        Annual Revenues in US$ Million by Region/Country - USA,
        Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), and Rest of
        World                                                              7
       Factors Driving Rapid Proliferation of Corporate e-learning         7
      e-Learning Bails Out Firms from Regulatory Training Hassles          7
      e-Learning Programs for Geographically Dispersed Workforce           7
      Role of Distance Learning in Enhancing Company's Revenues            8
      Distance Education in Fishery Industry                               8
      Distance Learning Model for Micro Finance Institutions -
       Implementation Challenges                                           8
      Distance Learning in Hospitals Witnesses Growth                      8
       Online Nursing Degree                                               9

  3. DISTANCE LEARNING: A BROAD SPECTRUM                                   9
      Distance Education: An Affordable Option                             9
      Present Scenario                                                     9
      Establishing a Distance Learning Program                             10
      Virtual Classrooms Gaining Popularity                                11
      Educational Advantages Offered by Distance Learning Colleges         11
      Growing Prominence of Distance and Open Universities                 12
      Distance Learning - Increasing Popularity Among Professionals
       and Students                                                        12
      Traditional Universities Finds a Leading Contender in Distance
       Education                                                           12
      Distance Education Promises Greener and Better Earth                 12
      Enhanced Focus on Learner-Centered Philosophy                        12
      Distance Learning Adopting New Technologies                          13
      Impact of Information and Communication Technologies on Learning     13
      Online Distance Education Offers Hope for the Deprived Lot           13
      e-Learning: Growth and Outlook                                       14
       Table 3: Global e-Learning Market (2007-2010): Annual
       Revenues in US$ Million for USA, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific
       (excluding Japan), and Rest of World                                14
       Trends in e-Learning Market                                         15
      Online Education Rides High                                          15
      Traditional Institutions Jumping the Online Education Bandwagon      16
      Online Education Finds Reliable Patron in Self-Motivated
       Individuals                                                         16
      Diversification of Higher and Distance Education Providers           16
      Outsourcing - A Relatively New Phenomenon                            17
       Why Does it Pay to Outsource?                                       17
        Cost Savings - Primary Driving Factor                              17
        A Need to Work with Specialist Vendors                             17
       Outsourcing Models - An Overview                                    17
        Single-Step Outsource Model                                        17
        Dual-Shore Development Model                                       17
        Totally Outsourced Model                                           18
       Benefits of Hosted or Outsourced e-Learning Services                18
      Advanced Technologies Cast an Indelible Mark on Online Education     18
      Artificial Intelligence Powers e-Learning                            18
      Open Source LMS - An Alternative to Commercial LMS                   18
      Edutainment Blends Learning with Entertainment                       19
      Technology May be the Fad but Content is King                        19
      Scenario-based e-learning - A Preferred Tool for Real-Life
       Situation Training                                                  19
      Online Education Expands to Cover New Segments and Study Areas       19
      K-12 Online Education Industry Witnessing Growth                     20
      Online Education Emerges as an Effective Tool for Teacher
       Training                                                            20
      MBA Programs Lead Online Degrees from the Front                      21
      Tailored t-Learning Catches On in Distance Education                 21
      Distance Education and Library Services                              21
      Educational Social Software in Online and Distance Education         22
      Poor Focus on Strategy Responsible for Failure of e-Learning
       Programs                                                            22
      Vendor-Developer Partnerships Pose Major Challenge                   22
      Integrating Diverse Standards - A Herculean Task for the Industry    22

  4. COMPETITIVE SCENARIO                                                  23
      A Highly Competitive Marketplace                                     23
      e-Learning Market                                                    23
       Consolidation: Key to Survival                                      23
        Table 4: Leading Vendors in the Global Learning Management
        Systems Market (2005): Percentage Breakdown of Revenues for
        SumTotal Systems, Saba Software, Plateau Systems, WBT
        Systems, and Others                                                23
      Review of Select Players                                             24
       SkillSoft Plc                                                       24
       SumTotal Systems, Inc.                                              24
       ThirdForce                                                          24
       Thomson Learning                                                    24
      Key Websites Providing Distance Medical Learning                     24
       Medscape                                                            24
       CMESearch.com                                                       24
       CyberUniversity.net                                                 24
       Cyberounds                                                          24
       Evidence-based Medicine Resource Center                             25

  5. PRODUCT OVERVIEW                                                      25
      Distance Learning: An Insight                                        25
      Online Distance Learning or e-Learning                               25
       Classification                                                      26
       Components of e-Learning Solution                                   26
       An e-Learning solution comprises of -                               26
      Personalization in Online Learning                                   26
      Mobile e-Learning: An Introduction                                   26
       Limitations of m-Learning                                           27
      Technologies Utilized in Distance Learning                           27
       Synchronous Technology                                              27
       Asynchronous Technology                                             27
      History and Development                                              28

  6. PRODUCT LAUNCHES                                                      29

  7. MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS                                              52

  8. STRATEGIC CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS                                      66


 A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE

  1. THE UNITED STATES                                                     99
      Review of Online Learning Industry                                   99
      Funding for Web-based and Satellite Distance Learning Systems        99
      Distance Learning to Supplement K-12 Classrooms                      100
      Distance Learning Enhances Accountability of Offered Programs        100
      Distance Education Programs Offered                                  100
       Online Bachelor Degree Program                                      100
       Distance learning Master Degree Programs                            100
        Universities Offering Post Graduate Courses in Distance
         Education                                                         101
      Online Learning Forges Ahead in Majority of States                   101
      Online Enrollment Registers Growth                                   103
       Table 5: Number of Students Enrolled for Online Learning in
       the US (2006-2008)                                                  103
      Online Educational Programs Gain Ground Among High School
       Students                                                            103
      Upsurge in Blended Online Courses                                    104
      Online Courses Offer Much Needed Flexibility to Busy Women           104
      New Software and Increased Internet Connectivity Takes Music
       Education Online                                                    104
      Corporate e-Learning                                                 105
      Dominates Overall e-learning Market                                  105
       Table 6: US e-Learning Market: Annual Revenues in US$ Million
       for Years 2007 through 2010                                         105

       Table 7: US Corporate e-Learning Market: Annual Revenues in
       US$ Million for Years 2007 through 2010                             105
      Branding: A Leveraging Factor                                        106
      Customized e-Learning: A Growing Fad                                 106
       Table 8: Learning Management Systems (LMS) in the US: Annual
       Revenues in US$ Million for Years 2006 through 2008                 106
      Concerns Associated with Online Learning                             106
      Online Education: Requirements for a Smooth Ride                     106
      New Legislations Seek to Validate Online Education                   107
      Adult Distance Learning Scenario in California                       107
       Mentor's Job                                                        107
       Instructional Format                                                107
       Refund                                                              107

  2. JAPAN                                                                 108
      e-Learning Market: An Overview                                       108
       Table 9: e-Learning Market in Japan: Annual Revenues in US$
       Million for Years 2007 through 2010                                 108
      Corporate e-Learning Market Holds Promise                            108
       Table 10: Corporate e-Learning Market in Japan: Annual
       Revenues in US$ Million for Years 2007 through 2010                 109
      Non-IT Enterprises Jump into the Arena                               109

  3. EUROPE                                                                109
      An Open Market for Education                                         109
      Overview of the e-Learning Industry                                  110
       Table 11: e-Learning Market in Europe: Annual Revenues in US$
       Million for Years 2007 through 2010                                 110

       Table 12: Corporate e-Learning Market in Europe: Annual
       Revenues in US$ Million for Years 2007 through 2010                 110
      Small & Medium Sized Businesses - The Weakest Link in European
       Corporate e-Learning Market                                         111

  3A. FRANCE                                                               111
      An Overview                                                          111
      Universities in Pressing Need to Keep Abreast with ICT               111

  3B. GERMANY                                                              112

  3C. THE UNITED KINGDOM                                                   112
      Review of the e-Learning Market                                      112
      Trends in e-learning Market                                          112
      Blended Learning Programs On the Rise                                112

  4. ASIA-PACIFIC                                                          113
      e-Learning Industry                                                  113
       Table 13: e-Learning Market in Asia-Pacific: Annual Revenues
       in US$ Million for Years 2007 through 2010                          113

       Table 14: Corporate e-Learning Market in Asia-Pacific: Annual
       Revenues in US$ Million for Years 2007 through 2010                 113
      Relatively Late Entrants with Better Access to Emerging
       Technologies                                                        114
      Diverse Languages - An Obstacle to e-Learning Adoption               114
      Proliferation of Digital Devices Holds Potential for m-
       Learning Solutions                                                  114
      Market Drivers                                                       114
      Market Restraints                                                    114

  4A. AUSTRALIA                                                            114
      Online Transnational Higher Education Finds Few Takers               114

  4B. CHINA                                                                115
      Distance Learning to Gain from Growing Wealth and Favorable
       Demographics                                                        115
      An Overview of the e-Learning Market                                 115

  4C. INDIA                                                                116
      Scope of Distance Learning                                           116
      Significance of Open and Distance Learning                           116
      Institutes Providing Distance Learning Courses                       116
      e-Learning Market - Opportunities Galore                             116
      e-Learning Outsourcing On the Rise                                   116
      Online Tutoring to Witness Substantial Growth                        117
      m-Learning: An Overview                                              117
       Role in the Education Sector                                        118
      e-Learning and m-Learning: A Comparison                              118
      Drawbacks of Distance Education                                      118

  4D. KOREA                                                                118
      Online Learning On the Rise                                          118
       Table 15: e-Learning Market in Korea (2006-2008):
       Individual's e-Learning Revenues in Won Billion                     118

       Table 16: e-learning Market in Korea (2008): Percentage
       Breakdown of Individual's e-Learning Demand by Age Group -
       3-5 Years, 6-9 Years, 20s, 30s, 40s, and Above 50s                  119
      Mobile e-Learning                                                    119

  4E. MALAYSIA                                                             119
      Government Encourages e-Learning                                     119
      National Education Blueprint                                         119
      Government e-Learning Initiatives                                    121
       Malaysian Smart School                                              121
       Penang e-Learning Community Project                                 121
       MySchoolNet                                                         121
       K-Perak e-Learning Cluster Project                                  121
       Malaysian Grid for Learning                                         122
      Contribution of the Private Sector                                   122
      Review of Select Initiatives                                         122
       Smart Utusan Education Portal                                       122
       In.trique Learning Module                                           122
       Edubestari.com                                                      122
       World Ahead Initiative of Intel                                     123
      Challenges and Issues                                                123

  4F. THAILAND                                                             123
      e-Learning in Government Sector                                      123
      Government Initiatives for e-Learning                                123

  5. AFRICA                                                                124
      Distance Learning to Witness Phenomenal Growth                       124
      Online Distance Learning Promises to Alleviate Endemic African
       Poverty                                                             124
      Online Learning Grapples with Various Issues Despite
       Remarkable Growth                                                   124
       Lack of Legitimacy and Political Support                            124
       Policy Issues                                                       125
       Insufficient Capacity                                               125
       Sustainability                                                      125

  5A. EGYPT                                                                125
      Academics and Universities Differ Widely on e-Learning               125

  5B. NIGERIA                                                              126
      Open And Distance Learning for Addressing Higher Education Needs     126
       Library Without Walls Initiative of NOUN                            127
       Information Literacy                                                127
       Challenges                                                          127
       Future Plans                                                        127

  5C. SOUTH AFRICA                                                         128
      Universities to Join the League of Their Counterparts in
       Developed Nations                                                   128

  6. LATIN AMERICA                                                         129

  6A. BRAZIL                                                               129
      Table 17: Distance Learning Market in Brazil (2006 & 2007):
      Number of Students Enrolled and Accredited Institutions              129

      Table 18: Distance Learning Market in Brazil (2005 & 2006):
      Post-secondary Distance Learning Enrollments                         129


 GLOBAL DIRECTORY