International Centre for
Learner Managed Learning
Middlesex University
Seminar
On Wednesday 22nd May at 5:00pm
In the Green Room, Mansion, Trent Park
“The Cost and Value of E-learning”
Presented by Peter Block
PricewaterhouseCoopers
The Cost and Value of E-learning
A return on the investment made in learning has always been a vexed
and controversial issue. Many of us might count the cost of learning
from personal experience but to actually try to measure it has on the face
of it been an anathema to educationalists and students alike. However,
the changing dynamics in both formal education and industrial training
environments means that if we are obliged to put in place quantitative
measures let's at least try to do it right.
This seminar explores the issues associated with investment
measurement techniques. More specifically I consider the case for
calculating the return on investment (ROI) and net present value (NPV)
as applied to corporate or industrial learning. The question to answer is;
can we put a cost to learning and still satisfy ourselves that the learning
had value to the individual and the organisation or the institute of
study? My data for the basis of this article is based on experience drawn
from the industrial sector. Yet I believe (given my lecturing years in FE
and HE) many of the issues raised have a resonance in the education
sector.
The mantra of least cost producer and 'let's put it on the web' has been a
major driver for change for learning provision in the industrial and
corporate sector. Is there a pragmatic response that can meet the
requirements of business and the needs of the staff and maintain a sense
of integrity about the learning being offered?
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