IntraLearn Asia and Global China Group Holdings launch distance education university for Chinese masses
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NORTHBORO, Massachusetts, December 23, 2002- IntraLearn Asia, a subsidiary of the boston group, a global provider of IT and e-Learning solutions, announced today that it has partnered with Global China Group Holdings and UIBE (University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, China) to deliver distance education to the masses in China.
As one of the leading universities in China, UIBE boasts many outstanding achievers in International Trade and Economics among its alumni, including high-level government officials, civil service leaders, state department consuls and ambassadors, and private sector business leaders. The university has also initiated academic exchanges and built strong ties with foreign academic institutions throughout the years. It achievements have won the university reputations like "Harvard of China", "Hot bed of International Business and Economics", and the "Cradle of CEOs".
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The eUIBE Formation
To meet the challenges of China's entry into the WTO and to modernize the education system, the Ministry of Education started a pilot program to allow selected institutions to issue academic degrees through distance education programs. In February 2002, UIBE was officially included in the program.
To take advantage of this opportunity, UIBE and the Global China Group Holdings set up a RMB 200 million (USD 2.5 million) joint venture, named China Human Capital Management Co. Ltd. (ChinaHCM), to build and operate the UIBE Distance Education College, named eUIBE (http://www.euibe.com).
A Global China subsidiary, Global China Convergence Software Technology, was roped in to provide the technical expertise and coordination.
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The eUIBE Distance Education Platform
The creation of the eUIBE distance education platform was a joint software development effort between Global China Convergence Software Technology and IntraLearn Asia. The resulting web-based platform provides a comprehensive solution that includes a Learning Management System (LMS), a Student Information System (SIS), and a Learning Content Management System (LCMS).
After a thorough evaluation of the major, competing, e-Learning solution providers in the worldwide e-Learning market, ChinaHCM finally selected the IntraLearn platform because of its modular design, robustness and scalability. "These technology attributes were key to the final delivery of the eUIBE distance education platform", says Dr. Xue Gen Cao, Executive Vice President of Global China Group Holdings.
The platform combined proven technology from IntraLearn with localized software modules that are unique to eUIBE's operational and business model. "The student registration, schedule management and other workflow found in Chinese universities is significantly different from that found in U.S. universities; therefore, creating this customized platform was the only way to effectively deliver distance education to the Chinese students", says Cui Fei, New Business Development and Technology Director of Global China Group Holdings. Another important feature of the platform is that it complies with all the major international e-Learning standards such as AICC, SCORM, and IMS. This enables the platform to integrate seamlessly with standards-compliant courseware from major international courseware developers.
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About Global China Group Holdings
The Global China Group Holdings Limited is a listed company in the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (stock code: 1105). The company is primarily engaged in three core business areas -- Broadband Content and Distribution, Human Capital Management, and Media Ownership and Services (http://www.globalchina.com). Apart from launching the eUIBE initiative, Global China is also engaged in several other business development activities to enhance its position in the Chinese e-Learning market.
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About UIBE (University of International Business and Economics)
The University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), situated in China's capital Beijing, was founded in 1951 as the Beijing Institute of Foreign Trade. In 1960 it was designated as a "key university" by the government for its outstanding programs. In May 1997 UIBE was put on the list of "Project 211" universities, a governmental program aimed at turning about 100 Chinese universities into exceptionally high quality academic institutions in the new century. In 2000, UIBE has become one of the state universities under the leadership of the Ministry of Education, and in June of the same year it merged with China Institute of Finance and has since become one of the leaders in the studies of business and finance.
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About the boston group
the boston group (TBG) is a global provider of IT & elearning solutions. Since 1988 it has delivered cost-effective solutions to a broad range of Fortune 1000 companies, Small to Mid-Size companies & Higher-Ed institutions through its development centers in U.S, India, Singapore, Malaysia & Philippines. For more information please visit www.thebostongrouppro.com/eLearning or info@thebostongrouppro.com