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PRESS INFORMATION ISSUED ON BEHALF OF:
Learning Light Ltd
Sheffield Technology Parks, Suite 21, Cooper Buildings, Sheffield S1
2NS, UK
Telephone: 0114 307 2357/2368; Web
www.learninglight.com
10th December 2014
Learning Light publishes insights into e-learning in the Middle
East
Learning Light, the UK-based market analyst that helps organisations
using e-learning and learning technologies to improve their business
performance, has published research into aspects of education and
training in the Middle East.
The research deals with:
- Women and Islam: how e-learning
can overcome traditional barriers to learning in Muslim communities
- The role of e-learning and technology in promoting equality and
redressing poverty in Muslim communities
- The driving forces for innovation in the Middle East
Pointing out that many women in Muslim communities face barriers to
education and learning, the research explains that this is only true
in a cultural, rather than a strictly religious, sense. Moreover, it
argues that e-learning could play a vital part in overcoming some of
these traditional cultural barriers.
Stressing caution in approaching women's education in both Western
and Muslim-majority countries, societies and communities, it quotes
a UN report which identifies gender inequality in education across
the world, in different forms and for different reasons.
While agreeing that cultural change is never easy to manage, The
Learning Light authors - Saeeda Ahmed and Dr Georgios Vournas -
reveal that e-learning is transforming women's access to education
across the world. In particular, they highlight Zayed University, an
all-female university in the UAE, which has conducted a study
regarding e-learning's impact on social and cultural limitations of
higher education.
Saeeda Ahmed and Dr Georgios Vournas conclude that e-learning can
provide a flexible way for Muslim women to access learning. It can
provide opportunities to learn key skills where face-to-face
delivery would be expensive and, in cultural terms, too rigid to be
used.
Admitting that 'e-learning and gender issues is a relatively new
area of research', the second piece of research points out that, in
many Muslim countries, educational poverty (the percentage of
population that achieves less than four years of schooling) is
widespread. In all of these countries, female educational poverty is
much higher than male.
It adds that, while e-learning and technology may not be the
complete answer in addressing educational and economic poverty for
women, e-learning and its underpinning technological infrastructures
can tackle some of the long-established barriers to a more
gender-balanced society.
Having stated that e-learning has become a major force in combating
educational inequality as well as a force of economic development,
the Learning Light authors argue that the Middle East can provide
many opportunities for e-learning developers and technology
companies, including being: investors in new technologies and
learning; funders of research, and potential buyers of highly
innovative products.
'There's strong evidence that Middle Eastern countries are committed
developing their economies and populations by using innovative and
creative ways,' said Learning Light Director, David Patterson.
'Consequently, they're investing heavily in innovation and
e-learning.
'So, while it's vital that any would-be investor recognises the
intricacies and subtleties involved in doing business successfully
in the Middle East, e-learning can be both the benefactor and
beneficiary as part of this area's solid commitment to innovation.'
These research-based articles are available via the Learning Light
website. The first one - on Women and Islam - is available in full
at: http://www.learninglight.com/node/243
End
About Learning Light Ltd
Sheffield-based Learning Light, founded, in 2005, provides advice
and help to organisations using e-learning and learning technologies
to improve their business performance. It's one of the few
organisations in Europe that publishes regular research on the
e-learning market - notably publishing in-depth reports on the UK
and European e-learning markets, encompassing market size, growth
projections and technology trends.
Learning Light's research has been used widely by Governments to
inform economic policy; by universities and education
establishments; by journalists; by investors evaluating new
opportunities and by other research organisations.
Learning Light provides support for clients at all stages of an
e-learning project and also offers ready-developed e-learning
courses in a variety of topics, as well as a range of courses for
the engineering, manufacturing, waste management and recycling
sectors. It is a WAMITAB Approved Centre to deliver qualifications.
Further information from:
David Patterson/ Gill Broadhead, Learning Light, +44 (0)114 307
2357/2368
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, +44 (0)1727 860405
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