Chief Learning Officer - June 2008 - (Page 36) IN PRACTICE ADDRESSING THE IT SKILLS GAP n today’s high-speed, globalized economy, familiarity with computer technology and accessibility to the Internet are not just useful skills, they’re critical for successful business. But with studies showing Latin America lagging in the information arena, companies operating offi ces in the region might need to invest more time and energy into facilitating organizational knowledge sharing and technical competence. “Much more can be done,” said Jeanne Belliveau-Dunn, general manager of learning at Cisco, a technology solutions provider. She pointed to the World Bank’s 2007 Knowledge Economy Index that showed Latin America surpassing only Africa and South Asia in information-sharing maturity. The issue might stem in part from poor integration and application of technology in higher education. Brazil’s University of Sao Paulo conducted a survey in 2005 on the state of information technology in Latin American colleges and universities and found that campus portals offering students IT tutorials and training, which are fixtures on U.S. campuses, are scarce. The survey also found that in Latin America, academic and administrative I IT functions are managed separately, whereas they are combined in the U.S. Such statistics might mean that those students who have learned technology in school have a hard time translating that knowledge into applicable, real-world skills. As BelliveauDunn said, “The linkages between universities and private industry are still not well-developed.” Yet Latin American governments fully understand the tremendous gains that can be achieved through increased technological capability, Belliveau-Dunn said. Likewise, organizations recognize the usefulness of tools such as elearning to reach a significant number of employees scattered across the vast region. Therefore, Cisco is working extensively to speed up the process of globalization in Latin America. “Over the past 10 years, Cisco has invested in more than 10,000 networking academies located in universities and other education centers in over 150 countries,” she said. “We have made additional investments in learning partnerships that provide commercial learning solutions to universities, government and local businesses. An educated and skilled population that can create and use knowledge is directly FINANCIAL TRAINING FROM THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW FINANCE PROFESSIONALS As the national membership organization for Certified Public Accountants, the AICPA knows finance professionals. If you are looking for cost-effective, quality training for your professional staff, AICPA LEARNING offers a wide variety of on-site training, including auditing, tax, leadership, internal control, ethics and more. BENEFITS OF AICPA LEARNING ON-SITE TRAINING: No lost travel time or expenses for staff Focused presentation for your company Confidential learning environment Flexible pricing options Discounts on large group seminars Employee/instructor interaction Convenient schedules Reinforced learning with workbooks and follow-up reading Experience and expertise of the AICPA With more than 200 COURSES to choose from — ranging from 4 hours to 3 days, accounting to Yellow Book — you are sure to find the training program that is right for you. For a complete list of available courses, visit www.aicpalearning.org or call 1-800-634-6780, Option 1 for more information. ISO Certified http://www.aicpalearning.org http://www.aicpalearning.org
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