Cegos Launches Complete Blended Learning Solution for UK Market

Cegos UK, part of Europeís largest training and development company, today announced the launch of its new blended learning solution, Global Learning by Cegos. In addition, Cegos has also launched e-learning solutions by Cegos - a catalogue of over 250 online training modules, many of which will be included in its blended learning solutions or provided as standalone learning tools. There will be 24 separate Global Learning by Cegos. programmes available in 2009 and a further 20 available in 2010.

The launch comes at a time when there is a growing demand for blended learning. Recent Learning & Development surveys by the UK Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found 95% of respondents agreeing that e-learning is more effective when combined with other forms of learning.

Global Learning by Cegos is a fully integrated, supported and blended training solution, which combines the latest skills-based, face-to-face learning techniques with relevant and interactive online training modules. Global Learning by Cegos provides self assessment opportunities across the learning activity to help individuals track their knowledge and skills developments.

The entire blended programme can be deployed internationally, is available in seven different languages, and can be tailored to a specific organisation, grounding the learning in the reality of the business challenges the learners face on a day-to-day basis. The new Cegos format now means that organisations have the ability to roll out training quickly and simultaneously to multiple teams in multiple locations without the usual incremental costs of redeveloping, translating, and localising the learning activities.

Additional benefits to the customer of Global Learning by Cegos include improved employee productivity as the blending of learning activities means less time away from oneís desk and greater flexibility in the ability to learn at oneís own pace. It will also help to maximise learning and development budgets while ensuring the activity is appropriate, relevant and personalised to the learner.

Said Jeremy Blain, Joint Managing Director of Cegos UK:

ìToo often in the past, e-learning has been technology rather than people-led with unsupported learners overwhelmed by both the technology and the lack of a clear focus to their training.î

ìGlobal Learning by Cegos takes the fear away from blended learning by providing a completely integrated and focused solution, where the learning goal and the learner are at the heart of all activities and where face-to-face tutoring aligns completely and seamlessly with bite-sized online training. The pre and post skills assessment also allows the learners to track their own progress.î

He continues:

ìNo company can offer the complete integrated blended solution Cegos is bringing to the UK market today ñ a solution which leverages all our areas of expertise. The additional blend that guarantees success is the three-way partnership between Cegos, the learner, and the learning organisation where learning goals and individual targets are met and where all parties place ROI as central to all activities.î

Recent research has found a growing demand for supported blended learning. A pan-European survey, published by Cegos in June 2008, found that 51% of UK corporate employees currently take part in blended learning programmes and 55% in e-learning.

Jeremy Blain continues:

ìOurs and the CIPDís figures back up our belief that the time is right for e-learning to take the next step into a fully blended, flexible learning architecture.î

ìWith Global Learning by Cegos, every individual will know exactly what path their training is taking ñwhere they are now and where they need to be at the end of the their own learning path - and how it relates to their position within the organisation.î

The Global Learning by Cegos package is made up of a combination of self-assessment, face-to-face training, and e-learning sessions. The integrated nature of the blended learning means that all parts of the learning path link to one another, taking the learner on an extended and flexible journey to skills development.

A typical Global Learning by Cegos programme will consist of two days of face-to-face training, five e-learning modules with a comprehensive self-assessment of knowledge and skills, prior to and following the learning activities.

The integrated blended event is managed by a convenient online training management platform (Learning Management System) which Cegos provides to each organisation and individual. Alternatively the same elements can sit on a clientís own LMS easily, as Cegos has ensured its solution is entirely flexible to suit the customer.

Programmes cover a range of management and leader development interventions, team leadership, leading change, networking, purchasing, high performance selling, negotiation, customer relationships and more.

Key benefits of Global Learning by Cegos include:

Flexibility and tailoring to the clientís specific needs. Global Learning by Cegos is designed so that organisations can customise any part of the learning to their specific challenges. This could be as simple as modifying the packaging to ensure the client branding is evident, through to Cegos working with the client to create a suite of case studies and learning scenarios linked to the clientís and the learnerís own work realities and challenges. The same goes for the online modules, the assessment criteria, and the live training content ñ a first for a high quality, off-the-shelf, learning package.
Learner Engagement. Each Cegos e-learning module has a user-friendly interface and is designed around three core principles - the teaching objective, the learner engagement, and the need to create a dynamic and stimulating learning environment. Each e-learning module is designed so that the participant controls the action, focuses on engaging the senses, and is closely linked with live learning. Global Learning by Cegos also allows each person to personalise training and learn at his or her own speed. Ongoing support is provided throughout. e-learning solutions by Cegos has a library of ready-to-use, interactive e-learning modules covering all corporate fields. The users activate the various learning windows, at their own speed, thus remaining in control of progress.
Reduced training costs and increased employee productivity. Blended learning results in less time spent on face-to-face training with employees away from their desks for less time, reducing associated training costs and increasing employee productivity. The relevant nature of the training also means the participant is applying what they learn to immediate workplace challenges, providing further opportunity to measure the impact of the entire learning event.
Improved measurement of training. Cegosí LMS (Learning Management System) platform enables the client to assess the expectations and results of people trained more accurately. Global Learning by Cegos assesses and analyses company and individual needs throughout the training process; tracks learning completed and accelerates the process if necessary; and ensures that companies can make full use of their employeesí potential.
Innovative learning approach & methods. Role playing, case studies, problem solving workshops, and business practice sessions are all part of Cegosí face-to-face learning experience, designed to replicate real-life situations that participants can take back and implement in the workplace. This further supports the participant as they apply the learnings and experiences to the real challenges they face day-to-day, providing measurable outputs for them and the organisation.
The ability to roll out internationally and adapt locally. Global Learning by Cegos is designed and packaged for rapid deployment throughout the UK and across the world.

For more information, visit www.elearning-cegos.com and www.global-learning-cegos.com.


About Cegos

Cegos UK is part of the Cegos Group, Europeís largest training and learning and development company. The company delivers integrated solutions and is the UK leader in blended learning ñ combining core expertise in face-to-face learning and
e-learning. Cegos provides customised and ëoff-the-shelfí training solutions to some of the worldís leading blue-chip, public sector, and SME organisations. It is one of the UKís largest providers of ëin-companyí training and associated consulting and assessment techniques.

Customers include American Express, CHEP, The British Library, The Met Office, Carestream Health, Coca Cola, Eastman Kodak Company, the European Commission, the European Space Agency, Henkel, Renault Nissan, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Schneider Electric (TAC), Warner Brothers, and a range of small and medium enterprises across the UK.

Founded in 1926, Cegos employs 1,200 staff worldwide and has an annual turnover of 153 million. The Cegos UK team consists of 25 full-time employees and a team of over 50 Cegos Accredited Consultants as well as having access to 1,000 Cegos experts based across Europe and Asia.

In 2007, Cegos trained 190,000 professionals in fifty countries. Cegos is ISO 9001-2000 accredited. Cegos UKís existence began in 1949 when the company was set up through an Act of Parliament as the sole consulting and training centre to the textile industry of Great Britain. Cegos UK is headquartered in Bracknell, Berkshire and delivers learning and development programmes across the UK. For further information, please visit www.cegos.co.uk and www.cegos.com.