Saba Deploys World’s First National eLearning Network Saba Learning Management Solution Designed to ‘UpSkill’ Norway’s Citizenry; The Competence Network Increases Availability of Continuing Education, Reduces Training-Related Costs
REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. – A milestone development in the global eLearning industry takes place tomorrow in Norway, when the forward-thinking country launches a nationwide Internet-based learning network developed by eLearning infrastructure leader Saba (Nasdaq: SABA).
The national deployment to “upskill” millions in the Norwegian workforce was established by The Competence Network of Norwegian Business and Industry (NKN), a coalition of the Norwegian Federation of Trade Unions (LO) and the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO).
The installation of the Saba eLearning infrastructure in Norway marks the first time a country has modeled the practices of successful global corporations to provide greater training and skills aimed at enhancing customer, partner, employee and supplier productivity and retention. Following the pilot launch, The Competence Network may reach more than 4 million citizens in a variety of industries and at all ends of the country.
“Norways Competence Network links employees at various sites throughout the country to personalized training and education from primary school to university level establishments,” said Sven Erik Skønberg, managing director of NKN. “Our goal is to implement an eLearning network that provides flexibility, speed in delivery of training solutions, and the ability to integrate multi-discipline learning applications – all on a platform that is accessible to all who desire, or require, training. Saba succeeded in providing an eLearning solution that will propel Norways workforce into the new century and beyond.”
Bobby Yazdani, president and chief executive officer of Saba, added: “The deployment of our learning management solution in Norway is another step toward bringing critical learning to the worlds workforce, so that every individual, enterprise and nation can better compete and succeed in the New Economy. More than 40 content providers will come together on the Saba-built NKN platform to offer training and re-education skills that not only will reduce the time-to-competency of Norways workers, but also reduce the amount companies, governments and schools spend on training.”
Currently, the global corporate and government learning market is more than $300 billion, and growing. According to the Frontline Group, the combined annual growth rate for online learning between now and 2003 is expected to be approximately 80 percent per year. Additionally, W.R. Hambrecht & Co. has referred to eLearning as “a rapidly emerging market that will increasingly influence how we learn in schools, in the workforce and at home.”
Continued Yazdani: “The market for eLearning services and solutions is an outgrowth of business need to increase the rate of learning in order to compete in a rapidly changing world. We applaud NKN in making this momentous decision and proudly accept our responsibility with the same fortitude and conviction we bring to every project, for companies and governments large and small.”
About Saba
Saba, the company that connects people to learning, is a leading global provider of learning management solutions. Customers around the world rely on Sabas eLearning infrastructure -as well as online and offline training from Sabas learning providers – to increase competitive advantage by rapidly building critical skills throughout their extended enterprise of customers, partners, employees and suppliers.
As of May 31, 2000, more than 2.8 million people around the world and 30,000 training offerings were “on Saba.” Global 2000 customers include Anheuser-Busch (NYSE: BUD), Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO), Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), General Electric (NYSE: GE), i2 Technologies (Nasdaq: ITWO), Informix (Nasdaq: IFMX), Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq: SUNW), Netscape, Red Hat (Nasdaq: RHAT), Hyundai, 3Com (Nasdaq: COMS) and the Veterans Benefits Administration. Saba-affiliated learning providers can be found at www.saba.com/exchange.
Founded in 1997, Saba is a global company headquartered in Redwood Shores, Calif. For more information, please visit www.saba.com or call (877) SABA-101 or (650) 696-1758 in the Americas, +44-0-208-334-8043in Europe, the Middle East and Africa or +61-2-9293-2538 in Asia/Pacific.
