The Hindu Business Line : Online B-school to launch India-specific courses

`We feel India can solve its problem of skills shortage with online education as candidates can continue to work while they sharpen their skills for a particular industry.'

Bangalore , Feb. 14

U21G, the online global business school, is working on courses relevant to the Indian industry and expects to launch them by the year-end.

These include master's degrees in population health and public sector management and a joint certificate programme in entrepreneurship and family enterprises businesses.

"Distance education is at a very early stage in India. We feel India can solve its problem of skills shortage with online education as candidates can continue to work while they sharpen their skills for a particular industry," said Dr Michael Goldberg, Chief Academic Officer, U21G. He cited the master's programme in travel and tourism(offered jointly with the University of Nottingham) as an example. This course is highly relevant in India, as there is a tremendous shortage of people in the travel and tourism industry, Dr Goldberg added.

U21G is working with the University of Queensland to offer a joint degree in population health. "This is targeted at working professionals in the healthcare sector, which will provide them with better managed health systems and delivery."

The PG course in public sector management, offered jointly with the University of Birmingham, is expected to be launched in the third quarter of this year.

U21G recently tied up with NS Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning of the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, and is working on a joint certificate in entrepreneurship for family businesses. "This will be launched in December this year," Dr Goldberg said.

Last week, U21G launched the master's degree in information and systems management targeted at professionals in the IT and outsourcing sectors.Universitas 21 Global, based in Singapore, has 16 partner members, including universities such as McGill University (Canada), University of Birmingham (UK), University of Edinburgh (UK), University of Singapore, University of Melbourne and University of Queensland. Professors from all the 16 universities set the course content.

Currently, 1,250 students have joined U21G from 52 countries, including India, Singapore, the UAE, the UK, the US, Australia, Russia, Tanzania, Canada and Malaysia.