Friday, December 11, 2009
How to Find the Best Home Internet Business?
Plan of Action for Sales Managers
Problems in advertising online.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
COLMBA RESOURCES
We are providing useful links on the Commonwealth of Learning website, as well as external links.
Knowledge Finder: COL's website offers a range of search fields on its Internet pages. The aim is to give access to additional resources, customised to the topic area of the web page the user is viewing.
WikiEducator: a community resource supported by the Commonwealth of Learning for the development of free educational content.
Copyright: working with experts in copyright, COL is assisting member countries to gain insights into the present copyright situation, by identifying exceptions and limitations to copyright that are permitted by international agreements and necessary for a fair education policy.
Information Resource Centre: The Commonwealth of Learning Information Resource Centre provides reference and information retrieval service to staff, consultants, clients and official visitors. Services available include an on-line catalogue and RSS news feeds.
News Feeds: RSS news feeds relating to specific areas of interest to COL partners, such as Open Educational Resources (OER) News Feed and Qualifications Framework News Feed.
Library Services
The Library provides easy-to-access, clutter-free, comprehensive resources regarding the leadership and management of yourself, other individuals, groups and organizations. Content is relevant to the vast majority of people, whether they are in large or small for-profit or nonprofit organizations. Over the past 10 years, the Library has grown to be one of the world's largest well-organized collections of these types of resources.
Management Internet Library
Has material for students, teachers and professionals.The Work911.com Workplace Supersite Network
Access to hundreds of free online articles on business, management, success at work, etc.Textbook Revolution
Free textbooks relating to Business Management available for download.Cornell University – Business Web Sites
The Management Library staff has compiled lists of free web sites for a variety of business-related topics. In most cases the services are free, although some do require a registration. Certain library-subscribed services are also included.Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
The Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) is an international organization dedicated to promoting the adoption, creation, use, dissemination and preservation of electronic analogues to the traditional paper-based theses and dissertations.
This website contains information about the initiative, how to set up Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) programmes, how to create and locate ETDs, and current research in digital libraries related to NDLTD and ETDs.DSpace Repositories
DSpace is the software of choice for academic, non-profit, and commercial organizations building open digital repositories. It is free and easy to install "out of the box" and completely customizable to fit the needs of any organization.Open Access Business and Economic Journals
The aim of the Directory of Open Access Journals is to increase the visibility and ease of use of open access scientific and scholarly journals thereby promoting their increased usage and impact. The Directory aims to be comprehensive and cover all open access scientific and scholarly journals that use a quality control system to guarantee the content. In short a one stop shop for users to Open Access Journals.
A wide range of studies, reports and research documents have been published by the Commonwealth of Learning. Most are available for download, free-of-charge, on our web site.
A definition of Open Courseware (OCW) and Open Educational Resources (OERs) is provided. Using Google and Yahoo Pipes search fields, this site will assist you in locating educational resources specific to your needs. Other relevant sites are listed below.
Open Courseware Consortium
Open Courseware Finder
MIT Open Courseware – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Open Learn – The Open University
Open Yale Courses – Yale University
This site is designed to provide a one-stop, comprehensive platform to access print and electronic resources on gender and open, distance and technology-mediated learning (ODL) with a special emphasis on information and communication technology (ICT).
This site is designed to provide a single, convenient access point to existing resources in quality assurance in open and distance learning (ODL). It is of particular use to institutions, researchers and governments seeking to establish benchmarks for quality provision.
Links to Other Organisations & Resources
Includes links to other organisations and databases, free access to online journals, e-mail and news digests and portals, national consortia for online education & information for international students and professional development resources
EVENTS AND CONFERENCES
The following website addresses are directly linked to conference and event sites of interest to our CEMBA / CEMPA consortia members.
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools in Business (AACSB)
World Class Practices in Management Education Conferences
In conjunction with
Maintenance of Accreditation Seminar
International Conference for Deans and Directors
India Accreditation Seminar
Accredited MBA Fair
This is a comprehensive conference on ICT for development, education and training on the African Continent. Its mission is to bring people together who are actively engaged in education and in the implementation of learning technologies in schools, universities, corporate training as well as in education in the public sector.
International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE)
Biennial conference to discuss various quality assurance aspects of Higher Education, including distance education and vocational education, prior learning recognition, and professional accreditation of higher education institutions.
Business conferences worldwide
REFERENCE SITES OF INTEREST
INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION BODIES
Association to Advance the Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
The mission of AACSB International is to advance quality management worldwide through accreditation and thought leadership.
Internationally recognised accreditation service considered the global standard for all Masters of Business Administration (MBA), Doctorates in Business Administration (DBA) and Masters in Business and Management (MBM) programmes.
Association of Management Development Institutions in South Asia (AMDISA)
AMDISA is an international not-for-profit association which networks management development institutions across the South Asian Nations, through exchange of information, conducting regional conferences and providing a forum for academics and business leaders. It is recognised by the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC), as a professional association for consultative purposes. It has 206 members, of which 176 are Institutional Members, 2 Affiliate Members, 14 Corporate Members and 14 Reciprocal Members. Membership is available to management development networks all over the world.
South Asian Quality Accreditation System
Refer to the Association of Management Development Institutions in South Asia (AMDISA)
European Foundation for Management Development (EMFD)
EFMD is an international membership organization, based in Brussels, Belgium. With more than 650 member organizations from academia, business, public service and consultancy in 75 countries, EFMD provides a unique forum for information, research, networking and debate on innovation and best practice in management development.
EFMD is recognized globally as an accreditation body of quality in management education and has established accreditation services for business schools and business school programmes, corporate universities and technology-enhanced learning programmes.
European Quality Improvement System (EQIS)
The leading international system of quality assessment, improvement, and accreditation of higher education institutions in management and business administration.
Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA)
The FIBAA is a Swiss non-profit agency for quality assurance with operative branches in Bonn (Germany) and Zurich (Switzerland). FIBAA audits, assesses and furthers private and state-approved higher education institutions and thus enhances transparency in the educational sector.
International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE)
The International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) is the premier professional accreditor for business programs in student-centered colleges and universities throughout the world. The IACBE exists to promote, develop, and recognize excellence in business education.
The IACBE’s philosophy of accreditation is centered on student learning and operational outcomes, which makes it flexible and adaptable. The IACBE accredits business degree programs in colleges and universities through the United States and internationally.
HIGHER EDUCATION BODIES
An international network for excellence in management development.
Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
Largest institutional higher education membership organisation based in the United States, offering advocacy, service and recognition of programmatic accrediting organisations.
International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE)
A world-wide association of some 200 organisations that are active in the theory and practice of quality assurance in higher education.
European Academy of Business in Society (EABIS)
A unique alliance of companies, business schools and academic institutions that is, with the support of the European Commission, committed to integrating business in society issues into the heart of business theory and practice in Europe.
PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS
Since 2002, The CEMBA / MPA Programmes have provided flexible study options for busy managers and working professionals. Students may choose from two fields of study: Business Administration (MBA) or Public Administration (MPA), with the option of:
- studying at any of the Partner Universities and receiving recognized and bona fide transfer of credits;
- multiple Programme exit points, with the option of earning a post-graduate diploma or a Masters degree, in as little as two years
Highlights include:
- Affordable fee structure - affordable access to management education for working executives and managers;
- Focus on Open & Distance Learning - flexible & distributed learning mode which is ideal for part-time study;
- Recognition and Credibility - The Commonwealth of Learning provides support to the CEMBA / MPA Consortium & Programmes.
- High-quality curriculum - the CEMBA / MPA courses were developed by subject matter experts from universities in Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, India, and Canada;
- Local Learner Support - each Partner University in the CEMBA / MPA Consortium provides learner support through tutors and local study centres;
- Localized Materials & Resources - each Partner University provides localized materials, resources and case studies to supplement learning;
- Credit Transfer - students attending courses at any Partner University will receive bona fide credits for their CEMBA / MPA degree. (Some conditions apply. Please contact the institution directly, where you wish to pursue a degree or diploma.)
- Expanding Number of Partner Universities - The CEMBA / MPA Consortium is growing throughout the Commonwealth. Please check the Partner Universities page for the most up-to-date information.
PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS
Since 2002, The CEMBA / MPA Programmes have provided flexible study options for busy managers and working professionals. Students may choose from two fields of study: Business Administration (MBA) or Public Administration (MPA), with the option of:
- studying at any of the Partner Universities and receiving recognized and bona fide transfer of credits;
- multiple Programme exit points, with the option of earning a post-graduate diploma or a Masters degree, in as little as two years
Highlights include:
- Affordable fee structure - affordable access to management education for working executives and managers;
- Focus on Open & Distance Learning - flexible & distributed learning mode which is ideal for part-time study;
- Recognition and Credibility - The Commonwealth of Learning provides support to the CEMBA / MPA Consortium & Programmes.
- High-quality curriculum - the CEMBA / MPA courses were developed by subject matter experts from universities in Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, India, and Canada;
- Local Learner Support - each Partner University in the CEMBA / MPA Consortium provides learner support through tutors and local study centres;
- Localized Materials & Resources - each Partner University provides localized materials, resources and case studies to supplement learning;
- Credit Transfer - students attending courses at any Partner University will receive bona fide credits for their CEMBA / MPA degree. (Some conditions apply. Please contact the institution directly, where you wish to pursue a degree or diploma.)
- Expanding Number of Partner Universities - The CEMBA / MPA Consortium is growing throughout the Commonwealth. Please check the Partner Universities page for the most up-to-date information.
Affordable advantage COLMBA
THE PROGRAMMES PREPARE GRADUATES FOR INTERNATIONAL-LEVEL PERFORMANCE. Demand is growing for post-graduate human resource training to increase the number of highly trained professionals required to maintain economic momentum and good governance. COL is playing a catalytic role in addressing this need in South Asia, directly benefiting individuals and the organisations in which they work, and thereby indirectly benefiting their societies. Upwardly mobile South Asian executives can now enrol in the Commonwealth Executive Master of Business Administration/Master of Public Administration Programmes (CEMBA/CEMPA, www.col.org/cemba ), taking the distance education courses wherever they live or work.
The Commonwealth Executive MBA/MPA has been offered since mid-2002 through four premier South Asian open universities: Bangladesh Open University (BOU), Indira Gandhi National Open University, (IGNOU, India), Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL), and Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU, Pakistan), although the last, AIOU, began offering courses in early 2003. The CEMBA/CEMPA was designed, developed and implemented as a result of collaboration between the four universities and writers from universities in Commonwealth countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada. This was brokered by COL with funding assistance from the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC).
The CEMBA/CEMPA focuses on optimising local productivity. Even better are the affordable fees, flexible study pace and seamless credit transfer between partner institutions offered to potential students. Courses feature relevant local learning materials and case studies, and cover everything from managing information and public systems to development planning and quality assurance. English is the lingua franca.
How long does it take to complete? Almost as long as learners want or have the time for within a five year period. Designed for part-time study by busy working professionals, the programmes can be completed by students at their own pace. As well, they don't have to take the full degree to benefit from the courses offered. Diploma and graduate diploma options are available. The full graduate degree requires a minimum of two years study up to a maximum of five years (although re-registration is possible after the expiry of five years).
The diploma option can be obtained in as little as one year. Learners receive certification from the institution they are accepted into. Admission requirements are streamlined across the four partner institutions. The programmes provide opportunities to acquire both accreditation and valuable training for candidates who are resident of a participating country, possess any sort of undergraduate degree (or have worked in a related field for at least two years) and can pass a test of professional experience and English fluency.
End-of-semester course evaluations are ongoing and an overall programme evaluation is underway.
Projections for the CEMBA/CEMPA promise a significant short- and long-term human and economic development pay-off for the SouthAsianCommonwealth region. As a working example of close regional collaboration, the CEMBA/CEMPA provides a template for the development of similar programmes elsewhere. To that end, COL has now discussed the development and promotion of a CEMBA/CEMPA programme with the National Open University of Nigeria, targeting learners in Commonwealth Africa as well with the Wawasen Education Foundation in Malaysia.
Commonwealth Executive MBA/MPA Programmes
The Commonwealth Executive Master of Business Administration and Public Administration (CEMBA/CEMPA) programmes are the outcome of collaboration between the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and four open universities in South Asia: Allama Iqbal Open University (Pakistan), Bangladesh Open University, Indira Gandhi National Open University (India) and the Open University of Sri Lanka. Established in 2002, the CEMBA/CEMPA programme is now expanding through partnership with universities in Asia, Africa, the South Pacific and South America.
The Commonwealth of Learning aims to empower people with the learning that enables them to be agents of economic and social development. Our goal is to deliver high quality learning and professional development opportunities - with our Commonwealth Partner Universities - that complement existing MBA/MPA programmes in the participating countries.
Flexible and Modular Programmes
The CEMBA/CEMPA programmes are designed for part-time study by busy working professionals, in response to the growing demands for post-graduate level education in business and public administration.
The flexible and modular programmes allow students to choose either Business Administration (MBA) or Public Administration (MPA) as their major field of study. In addition, students have the option of several exit points after earning a diploma, graduate diploma or a Masters degree. The minimum completion time for the Commonwealth Executive MBA or MPA is two years.
Top Quality Curriculum
Instructional materials for each course were developed by subject experts drawn from various institutions in the Commonwealth. Curriculum developers from universities in Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, India and Canada, wrote original course materials. Other courses were adapted and updated or acquired from existing courses at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), the Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK), Charles Stuart University (Australia), and Massey University (New Zealand). Courses are updated regularly, most recently following a comprehensive evaluation by a team led by the University of South Africa.
What is the Commonwealth of Learning
The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is an intergovernmental organisation created by Commonwealth Heads of Government to encourage the development and sharing of open learning/distance education knowledge, resources and technologies. COL is helping developing nations improve access to quality education and training.
Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, COL is the world's only intergovernmental organisation dedicated solely to promoting and delivering distance education and open learning, and is the only official Commonwealth agency located outside Britain.
Mandated to be in the vanguard of technological change in education and training, COL and its international network of partner organisations have helped the Commonwealth's 54 member nations and their citizens realise widespread access to quality, current education and training for over fifteen years. Fully operational since 1989, COL is financially supported by Commonwealth governments on a voluntary basis. It responds to Commonwealth needs through in-country and regional programmes and initiatives, as well as fee-for-service consulting for international agencies and national governments.
Although it is a tiny intergovernmental body, not a donor agency, COL has helped Commonwealth countries give millions of people new opportunities to learn over the two decades of its existence. The secret of its success is to empower governments, institutions and individuals to develop learning systems themselves without relying on donors.
COL and the Commonwealth
The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is an intergovernmental organisation created by Commonwealth Heads of Government to encourage the development and sharing of open learning/distance education knowledge, resources and technologies. COL is helping developing nations improve access to quality education and training.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of more than 50 independent sovereign states, which provide support to each other, and work together toward international goals. The Commonwealth is described as a "family" of nations, originally linked together in the British Empire, and now building on their common heritage in language, culture and education, which enables them to work together in an atmosphere of greater trust and understanding than generally prevails among nations.
Bringing together some 1.7 billion people of many faiths, races, languages, traditions and levels of economic development, the Commonwealth represents almost one-third of the world's population.
Vice Chancellors of Participating Universities
As partners in the Commonwealth Executive MBA and Executive MPA programmes (CMBA/CMPA), we are pleased to extend our congratulations and good wishes to students joining these professional programmes at Allama Iqbal Open University. We, the the Vice Chancellors of new CMBA/CMPA consortium welcome you on this intellewal and professional journey.
We share a common goal of delivering high quality open and distance education programmes, which meet the highest standards of executive education in the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Executive MBA/MPA programmes are designed to help busy practicing professionals, managers, and public and private sector officers, gain a higher level of competency in their respective functions, and learn and attain skills to support their career advancement.
The aim of the flexible, modular and learner-centred programme design and developed to enable you to achieve your high professional goals, while balancing ongoing career and family demands. Inter-institutional credit transfer and the international partnership among our universities also provide opportunities for student mobility and broader learning perspectives. In this increasingly globalised world, this has become more important than ever.
We invite you to join us in building leaders for tomorrow. Begin the journey today, with the Commonwealth Executive MBA/MPA.
Vice Chancellors of Allama Iqbal Open University
Congratulations on your decision to consider Commonwealth MBA/MPA Programme for executives from Allama Iqbal Open University. Your decision to enhance your career by pursuing this programme is an important and timely one. The rapidly changing managerial world, presents both challenges and opportunities for private and public sector executives today, and the executive MBA programme is designed to expand your professional skills to gain a new level of competitiveness tomorrow. I applaud you on your choice to consider earning an international post graduate degree in Business / Public Administration from Allama Iqbal Open University, which is being offered in collaboration with Commonwealth of Learning.
Our collaborating agency, Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is an inter-governmental organisation with a mandate to widen opportunities for learning in the 54-member states of the Commonwealth by promoting the development and sharing of open and distance learning resources and communication technologies. This prestigious MBA/MPA programme is being simultaneously offered in all the major countries of South Asia and is being expanded throughout the Commonwealth member states in the world.
I invite you to join our Commonwealth MBA/MPA programme for Executives and explore the challenges and opportunities with a group of colleagues, who share common goals and aspirations. If you are on a path to take on the challenges of a leadership position, we are available to assist and enhance you in your continuous professional development.
Prof. Dr. Mahmood-ul Hasan Butt
Vice Chancellor
Allama Iqbal Open University
Vice President and Programme Director
I would like to extend to prospective Allama Igbal Open University students a very warm welcome to the Commonwealth Executive Master of Business Administration and Public Administration (CMBA/CMPA) Programmes. I am pleased that you may be considering enrolling in a unique executive leadership and management education programme that is highly-valued throughout the Commonwealth and beyond.
The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) supports the collaborative efforts of open universities in the Commonwealth countries to ensure that students enjoy a valuable education experience, derived from quality educational curricula.
Expanding Your Options
The CMBA/CMPA courses were developed by subject matter experts from universities in Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, India, and Canada.
The Programmes provide flexible study options for busy managers and working professionals. Students may choose from two fields of study: Business Administration (MBA) or Public Administration (MPA), with the option of:
• Studying at any of the partner universities and receiving recognized and bona fide transfer of credits; • Multiple Programme exit points, with the option of earning a post-graduate diploma or a Masters degree, in as little as two years
Quality and Affordability
Nine universities across the Commonwealth are now under license with COL to deliver the CMBA/CMPA programmes, some of them reaching out to students beyond their national borders. With this expanding nature of the programmes, the need to ensure quality education while maintaining access and affordability across countries and regions is imperative. Trained human resource is the foundation of sustainable development. I especially encourage women to come forward and take advantage of this Programme.
Wishing you every success.
Professor Asha Kanwar
Chair, Academic Board
Vice President and Programme Director Commonwealth of Learning Canada
Message from The President & Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth of Learning
It is in this context that the Commonwealth Executive Master of Business Administration (CEMBA) and Executive Master of Public Administration (CMPA) programmes were developed by experts from across the Commonwealth and launched in 2002. Our international network of partner universities adminster the programmes, providing appropriate and effective learning support for CMBA/CMPA students.
As Chair of the Executive Governing Board oof the Coimmonwealth Executive MBA/MPA programme, I wish to congratulate the Vice Chancellor of Allama Igbal Open University and his colleagues in their management of the programmes. Through your determination and ongoing endeavours, I am assured of the contribution to your institution, through the CMBA/CMPA programme is making towards the building of capacity of your nation.
I believe that students, who participate in the Commonwealth Executive MBA/MPA programme will find it a valuable and enriching experience. I wish all students, faculty and administration at Allama Igbal Open Universityvery success.
Sir John Daniel
Chair, Executive Governing Board. President and Chief Executive Officer, Commonwealth of Learning
The Commonwealth of Learning
The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) founded in 1987, wasinspired by the vision that the peoples of the Commonwealth must and can have access to knowledge, regardless of where they live and whether they are rich or poor.
Allama Iqbal Open University has achieved a landmark in its education by offering the Commonwealth International MBA/MPA programme for Executives (CIMBA/MPA), a new initiative in executive education for citizens of the Common wealth.This programme is the outcome of close collaboration between the Commonwealth of Learning and the national open universities of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.The CIMBA/MPA is designed to cater to the needs of the 21st century business perspective and for part-time study by busy working professionals, the programme can be completed by students at their own pace.The main idea, behind this program, is to support various functional areas of business and public sectors activities which helps professionals and busy executives to understand how business integration is achieved through managerial education and techniques.
CIMBA/MPA is committed to provide high quality professional education through the use of conventional and unconventional teaching methods. The admission to this programme will be offered on competitive merit, which will be determined on the basis of a specially designed Admissions Test. The candidates who hold a minimum second-class graduate degree and two years post qualification executive experience will be allowed to compete for admission and sit for the Admissions Test.
The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) founded in 1987, was inspired by the vision that the peoples of the Commonwealth must and can have access to knowledge, regardless of where they live and whether they are rich or poor.
The leading professors and experts of Commonwealth Universities have developed the learning material for these programmes. The material provided to the students is based on the indigenous environment of