(From arabnews.com) According to a report this year from Ambient Insight, the global market for self-paced e-learning reached $27.1 billion in 2009. "The Worldwide Market for Self-paced eLearning Products and Services: 2009-2014 Forecast and Analysis," shows that global demand is growing by a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.8 percent and revenues will reach $49.6 billion by 2014.

The report found that in the Middle East, the use of self-paced e-learning tools is growing as well, albeit at just eight percent. Reasons for this slower growth could be the lack of e-learning materials in Arabic, the continuing emphasis on traditional educational delivery channels, inadequate broadband infrastructure, high data costs and the lack of acceptance by employers of e-learning tools and certifications.

Despite the many hurdles, this year at companies and government organizations across the Middle East, Dubai-Headquartered Knowledge Horizon introduced its "Work Ethics in Ramadan" e-learning program. From Saudi Arabia, Khalid Ali Alturki & Sons (Alturki), a leading family owned investment and development company, supported the program as a Silver Partner. The initiative was put forward by Knowledge Horizon and its partners to gently initiate discussion about behavior in the workplace during the holy month of Ramadan. The program focused on positive practices and included a section on how to best deal with co-workers who might not be fasting.

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