Learning at the Workplace:

The Experience of SME Online University in Taiwan

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Dr. Su-Houn Vandy LiuChung-Yuan Christian University

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e-Learning Industrial Development in Taiwan

Market Size Growing 20 Times

0.7

2.2

4.0

6.5

9.4

0

20

40

60

80

100

12012.0

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Unit ： NT$ Billion

2008

13.4140

Resource: MIC (2009)Resource: MIC (2009)

160

2009

15.3

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Enterprise Application Rate Growing 4 Times

• According to China Credit Information Service(2009) ：– e-Learning applied by 61% large

enterprises– 16% large enterprises implement Level 3

(Application) evaluation

14%23%

35%42%

52%59%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

61%

2009

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International Recognitions

Year Category Awards Vendors

2009 Best Results of a Learning Program Bronze CMO-Chi Mei

2008 Best Results of a Learning Program Silver e-Johnson

2007 Best Results of Learning Program BronzeOK

Convenience Store

2005 Innovative Technology Bronze

TamKang Univ. &

TransAsia Airways

The 1st Taiwan Company won

the ASTD Awards

The 1st Taiwan Company won

the ASTD AwardsLearning TechnologiesLearning Technologies

5

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•66% suppliers increased manufacturing quality66% suppliers increased manufacturing quality•Each supplier increased Each supplier increased manufacturing qualitymanufacturing quality of 44.46% of 44.46%22

•24% suppliers reduced cost24% suppliers reduced cost•Each supplier reduced cost of NT$926K averagely, Each supplier reduced cost of NT$926K averagely, and reduced NT$116M in totaland reduced NT$116M in total

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•19% suppliers increased manufacturing ability19% suppliers increased manufacturing ability•each supplier increased manufacturing ability of NT$1390K, and each supplier increased manufacturing ability of NT$1390K, and increased NT$139M in total increased NT$139M in total

44•37% 37% suppliers increased product suppliers increased product delivery on timedelivery on time•Each supplier increased product delivery on time of 33.65%Each supplier increased product delivery on time of 33.65%

55•19% suppliers increased revenue19% suppliers increased revenue•Each supplier increased revenue of NT$1710K averagely, andEach supplier increased revenue of NT$1710K averagely, andincreased NT$171M in totalincreased NT$171M in total

66 •25% suppliers increased revenue growth25% suppliers increased revenue growth•Each supplier increased revenue growth of 16% averagelyEach supplier increased revenue growth of 16% averagely

Benefits of CMO Green Product Supply Chain Knowledge Network

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OK Convenience Stores Company• Monthly Promotion and Pre-sale Training ：

– Equip employees with the skills and knowledge before the promotions and pre-sale activities starts

• New Product Promotion• e-Learning 2.0 solutions ：

– such as podcasting and mobile learning to fast identify experts

• Results ：– Increase the revenue of new promotion and pre-sale

1.1 million strong, SMEs constitute 90% of all businesses in Taiwan.

800,000 (73%) are micro-enterprises, employing 20 or less people.

A total of 6 million people are employed by SMEs, working an average of 10 or more hours a day.

Taiwan SMEs are known for their ability to quickly respond to market changes and seize new opportunities.

SME Online University Taiwan’s SMEs and the Hummingbird Mascot

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The SME Online University was created to provide for the developmental needs of Taiwan’s SMEs. We chose the hummingbird as the mascot for this project because the hummingbird works hard to take flight and must constantly seek out sustenance to support its fast pace and development.

The conversation that wasn’t going anywhere:

Government officials kept saying:“To compete globally, business owners have to continue to learn and boost their knowledge in order to stay competitive.”

Before the launch of SME Online University

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SMEs kept replying:“Where do we find time for classes when we have to work from morning till night, be the boss AND the employee?”

SME Online University is the answer

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Since the launch of SME Online University

“Everyone seems to be going on and on about the government’s failings instead of acknowledging their efforts. I’m taking a marketing course at the SME Online University and it’s totally free. They deserve some credit for that.”

“The worst thing to do in an economic downturn is to wallow in self-pity. Instead of waiting for an opportunity, why not create one? If you still don’t know how to take advantage of http://www.smelearning.org.tw, then you’re just too lame!”

“I vaguely remember a friend recommending the site to me some time ago. When I visited the website, I was surprised to find the content so incredibly relevant for me.”

SME Online University has received wide praise in Taiwan’s blogosphere (2,577 related postings). Here’s what they’re saying:

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“Creating a good business plan is the best thing one can do right now. So, I suggest that you check out this great website – the SME Online University. It offers lots of free online courses and advice for developing and writing a business plan. Good luck and all the best!”

“If you’re looking to upgrade your skills, you have to check this site out. It’s convenient and easy to use. It’s always available, accommodating anyone’s schedule. If you can’t sleep in the middle of the night, you can just go online and learn something useful. And, because it’s government funded, it’s absolutely free. Thanks for providing the information to help more people.”

“SME Online University is totally free. You can learn English and take management courses. It’s great for those who want to further their studies but struggle to find time. Courses are conducted online, but each person has to attend at least 30 minutes. It’s government funded so if no one attends the courses, the website will be taken down and taxpayers’ money will have been wasted. It’s all free so spread the word!”

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Since the launch of SME Online UniversityMore positive postings from the blogosphere

Courses: 988Members: 372,419Attendees: 24.09 millionVisitors: 8.84million

Why SME Online University is the largest e-learning website in Asia

24T1 broadband lines36Mbps data burst457 simultaneous online users 8000Gb space

Learning Platform

Learning Platform

1,122 new members26,696 members took classes75,890 visitors210,107 page views

Recent Week’s Figures

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SME Online UniversitySite Development Milestones and

Goals

SME Online University

2006~20072006~2007Resource

enrichment phase

Resource enrichment

phase20032003 Resource building phase

Resource building phase1.Established

single-portal website

2.Established mechanism for selecting online teaching material

3.Reproducing existing lectures/ teaching materials

SME e-College 2004~2002004~20055

Resource integration

phase

Resource integration

phase

SME e-College

SME Online University

2008~20112008~2011

Resource optimizing phase

Resource optimizing phase

1.System for managing college operation

2.Expanding source, quantity of courses

3.Learning mechanism for individual corporate organization

4.268 courses, 20,000 members

1.Establish six major colleges

2.Increase to 1,000 courses

3.Establish communities to increase discussion and interaction

4.10 million aggregate visitors

5.400,000 members, attended courses 3 million times

6.Become learning website for local SMEs and overseas Taiwan businesses

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1.Established one-stop learning platform

2.Established four major colleges

3.Increased to 702 courses

4.260,000 members

5.3.13 million aggregate visitors

NT$215/person

2003~2005

Introductory stage

Growth stage

Mature stage

Phase 1

Phase 3

Visitors: 395,937

Learning cost per person ($/person attending courses)Learning cost per person ($/person attending courses)

Phase 2

2006~2007

2008~2011

$126/person $79/person

Courses: 268

Colleges: 1

Visitors: 3,055,386

Courses: 702

Course attendance: 584,842

Colleges: 4

Members: 400,000

Course attendance: 2.2 million

Colleges: 6

Today’saccomplishment

Yesterday’s performance

Future vision

SM

E O

nlin

e

Univ

ersity

SM

E O

nlin

e

Colle

ge

e

Service diversification

Content enrichment

Foundation building

Visitors: 10,000,000

Courses: 1,000

Members: 263,382

Members: 20,817

Course attendance: 159,737

SME Online UniversityBranding, technology, organizational learning, community,

courses

SME Online University CSFs

Platform Independent

College of Marketing and Channel Management

College of Finance

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College of InformationTechnology

College of Human Resources

College of …

College of GeneralKnowledge

Learning in the Working World

• Link e-learning goals with business goals

• Providing customized learning platform for SME

• Assigning learning consultants to provide customized learning service

Integrating Learning Resources

• Exchanging online courses• Compiling training information • Utilizing external resources • Alliance with publishing

channels • Collaboration with consultation

teams• Cooperation with industry

associations

One-stop learning website for Taiwanese businesses

• Largest Chinese-language e-learning website

• Serving local and overseas Taiwanese SMEs

Full function e-learning services

• College courses • Online lectures• Online radio • Online book excerpts • Online communities • Training information • Office hours • e-Tutor

Interesting Findings

• Mis-match in labor market for SMEs

• The role of e-learning in workplace learning

• e-Learning and Innovation in the Workplace

• Mid-aged makes great e-learner

• Promotion and Marketing

Looking for the Future

• Developing on-site mobile-device learning

• Introducing Digital Rights Management (DRM)

• Certificate for Job seeking

SME Online University

SME Online University in Youtube

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“ The First Thing Any Government Should Do.”

Thank You