No sooner had we completed our interview with Epic's CEO Donald Clark, then we receive news that QA Training and Epic Group Plc are to join forces to work on integrating traditional and electronic approaches for learning, reflecting a continued move towards consolidation in the e-learning market.
QA Training, who provide instructor-led IT and professional skills training, say that the link-up will help continue QA Training's push to put content on the web to complement and integrate with the classroom-based training they already offer. QA say that this makes them "the only company to offer a total training solution through the integration of WBT (web-based training) and traditional ILT (instructor-led training)".
QA Training say that they expect more and more elements of learning will be delivered through the Web, allowing for a more flexible approach to training. Managing Director Bob Bradley says, “The integrated approach to learning is the future".
Both QA Training and Epic work on major projects for tailored training solutions for large companies, but QA Training also have an off-the-shelf programme on offer, covering technical training in most areas of project management, software development, systems implementation, system support and networking.
Speaking to TrainingZONE, Ian Farringdon from Epic, who has been working on the collaboration, said that there were a couple of reasons why the companies decided to pool resources: "Firstly, QA are well-established in systems training and we are well-established in e-learning systems. Although we're good at providing a complete solution in e-learning, there's lots of potential to marry to two together - you don't have to have just classroom training or just e-learning. In working together, we can provide tools for integrated e-learning, using web-enabling, pre-and post-course tests and tutorials, I see it as a great opportunity to move e-learning forward in a new field. In addition, QA have 300-400 course titles and we can help shape their future by offering consultancy to re-shape what's there."
"It's taking a different angle as an approach to learning - traditionally there's been a fear from trainers that their role is disappearing, but it doesn't have to be the case. E-learning is an additional tool, which adds consistency and variety to training."
QA Training are part of Skillsgroup, who have three businesses involved in different areas of the IT market - resource management, consulting and enterprise solutions. QA's IT Training offering is complemented by Pontis, a specialist IT consultancy and Acuma who provide enterprise computing solutions.
