e-learning readiness - Asia Pacific Region - Open University Malaysia

has been ranked 8 in the years 2003 and 2004 (Economist Intelligence Unit,2004). Among 64 countries from all over the world, Malaysia was ranked33 in 2003 and 2004 for e-readiness. The study also found that Malaysiahas been able to transform its technology manufacturing industry into oneof IT and Internet-friendly support service.However, in the recent Global Competitiveness Report 2004 by the WorldEconomic Forum, Malaysia was ranked 27 th in the technology index,down from 20 th in 2003. Minister Datuk Dr. Jamaludin Jarjis’ response tothis was that his ministry has embarked on or will undertake a series ofprogrammes to boost Malaysia’s ranking (Chow, 2004). One example isthe plan to increase the broadband penetration rate through the NationalBroadband Plan.Other studies have also found positive indicators of Malaysia’s E-learningreadiness. In one case study (http://www.optinit.org, 2004), it is reportedthat Malaysia’s “Vision 2020” programmes include development of theICT sector to improve its competitiveness at a global level. Some of theinitiatives cited for improving ELR are increasing ICT literacy, developingportals for cooperation among work communities and e-commerceinitiatives.Past research has also provided an understanding of a number ofconstructs that may be used to calibrate the E-learning readiness of apeople or a region. For example, a report on E-learning readiness inASEAN countries, examined ELR using constructs such as infrastructure,political will, integration of business requirements into a country’spolicies, legislation and regulation with regards to E-learning, as well asinnovations that improve productivity and standard of living. Onanother front, the Economic Intelligent Unit used E- readiness criteria thatassessed six categories: technology infrastructure, their general businessenvironment, the degree to which E-business is being adopted byconsumers and companies, social and cultural conditions that influenceInternet usage, and the availability of services to support E-businesses. Incomparison to the above list of ELR criteria, a study by McConnellInternational (2000), examined E-readiness using the following:connectivity, E-leadership, informal security, human capital, and the E-business climate.Although operational definitions and assessment criteria for readiness arevaried, it may be concluded that most measures of E-learning readinessexamine the following dimensions: the learner, the management, thepersonnel, the culture, the provision of relevant content, as well astechnical, financial, and environmental resources.In addition to measures of E-learning readiness is the issue ofimplementing sustainable and far-reaching imperatives for creating an E-savvy citizenry. In 1999, the National Information Technology Council(NITC) recommended three broad imperatives for the implementation ofinnovative and indigenous E-learning imperatives. These were:Joint Study by MEWC and OUM 5