PurpleTrain Student Excels In The Corporate World

Our graduates or students come from all areas of the world and thrive in global multinational companies. This is partly due to the useful stint that they spend with us and to their hard work in pursuing their higher education online. Mr Devan Vanniasingam, now IT Head - Internet Banking Systems, Saudi French Bank is one of our UOP graduates who wrote to us recently.

Dear Sir,
Hi. How are you doing ? Hope that you are well and in the best of health.

I would like to formally take this opportunity to thank you personally and PurpleTrain lecturers (especially Miss Thara Ravichandran) and the Operations staff for making my study a memorable and interesting one. My gratitude goes beyond my expression to you and the lecturers who have been very patient and at the same time extremely supportive to me during my course of study for the BSc (Hons) with UOP.

The warm welcome and arrangements made when my family and I arrived in UOP, in addition to the superb Graduation ceremony, and the continuous support from you throughout my studies made me realize how professional and dedicated both organization have been to me, thus giving me the interest to pursue my further graduate studies once again with UOP and PurpleTrain. In addition, I would appreciate if you could kindly advise me on what postgraduate degrees will be offered by PurpleTrain in future?

Once again, please extend my sincere appreciation to PurpleTrain & UOP who I am immensely grateful to, and I hope to hear from you in the near future.

Thanks & best regards,

Devan Vanniasingam, IT Head - Internet Banking Systems,
Saudi French Bank, PO Box 56006, Riyadh,
11554 Saudi Arabia.

Well done, Mr Vanniasingam, you have done us proud by proving that an online education can reap the same rewards as any other mode of study. We hope you will continue to excel in your career and strive for the sky! At PurpleTrain, we are encouraged by feedback from students such as Mr Vanniasingam to give us the encouragement to do even better in our services and introduce more online courses for our students.

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What Students Say: Thumbs Up for PurpleTrain Faciliatators!

It’s no surprise that some first time students find e-learning daunting when they first start on their first course. The first
time jitters experienced are perfectly normal to the newbie. All they need is a helping hand or an online helping hand in the case of e-learning. The facilitator can play a very important role in helping the newbie adjust to his new online surroundings. An appreciative student, Mr Trapal Singh Narula, student in the Advanced Diploma in
Computer Studies (ADCS) course initially found it difficult to juggle between
work and study. However, after talking to his facilitators, he managed to reduce his
time management problems and graduate from the course.

Dear Mr Michael Wee,
I’m writing this ‘Thank You’ letter as a token of my appreciation for all your support and understanding throughout my tenure at Informatics whilst pursuing the ADCS course. I had completed my Diploma in Computer Studies (DCS) from Bangkok, Thailand, (my place of residence), before I arrived for National Service.

I later found it wasn’t as easy as I thought, as the ADCS course demanded much more time and effort as compared to the DCS. It was also tough juggling between National Service and studying part time. A lot of times I thought of quitting as I found it difficult to cope. However, when I had a problem I could not solve, you were always there to support me and give me alternatives on how to overcome my problems.

On another occasion when I had problems with my project group, and the other member was always causing problems, you gave me good advice on how to overcome the problem. Finally, I manage to complete my project and obtain my ADCS qualifications.

I just want to sincerely thank you and all the staff from the ADCS department. It’s because I truly believe if it wasn’t for you and the other lecturers of the ADCS department I probably would have quit the ADCS a long time ago, and I would have never accomplished what I have today, that is, graduating from ADCS!.

I would also like to give special thanks to the following :-

1. Mr Michael Lim for his support and understanding
2. Mr K.W Tan, one of the most fun lecturers who can make a boring class fun.
3. Mr Lim Jyh Ren, my favorite lecturer
   Mr Foo Chek Yang, for his help and advise
   

Tks again & B.Rgds
Trapal Singh Narula

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In this release, we feature some appreciative students who are thankful for the efforts of their module facilitators who have gone the extra mile. They have tried to make the students feel that they are not alone in their quest for knowledge. At PurpleTrain, e-Learning is made more enjoyable with these caring facilitators.

Here is an excerpt from Ms Ching Lilian’s email that sounds out her
appreciation:

“I want to thank a good facilitator - Mr Benny Tan. He has made an uninteresting subject/module interesting. He uses different methods of instruction to ensure that the student finds the module easy to master and move on to the next higher level. He is such a well-prepared facilitator and a most experienced one too. He shows his utmost concern and really does his best to prepare his students for the exam. With a facilitator such as Benny for my other modules, I’ll have the confidence to pass my exams with flying colours. The reason is that he prepares the lesson in such a way that an older student is able to catch up with the latest technology and absorb information easily. Benny is really a Distinguished Facilitator!”

Another student, Mr. Anthony K.F. Hui, a current student of Advanced Diploma in Computer (ADIC) shares his feedback how he enjoys studying with PurpleTrain.com. Anthony chose PurpleTrain’s e-Learning programmes because he does not want to give up his present job but wants to equip himself with an extensive knowledge in Computer Studies. In his email, he said:

“The lecturers are very professional and are able to make the subjects interesting and easily comprehensible. They provide excellent notes and directed us to further references that saved us much time. I do not want to give up my present job but I would be very eager to expand my professional knowledge if I could study part-time. The programme itself is very diverse combining both academic and practical aspects of a wide range of computing subjects. The best part is that I get the chance to learn a bit about everything.”

Compliments also go out to Mr CK Tan who facilitates BA603 Business Quantitative Analysis from two of the grateful students.

“In addition to making this course interesting, I would like to thank you for your
guidance and helpfulness during this course.”
Best Regards
Joon Fui Lew

Lai Sin (Karen) Woon comments on the same facilitator Mr CK Tan: “I’d like to thank you for the help and guidance you have given to us during this course. I agree with Joon Fui that the course has been very interesting, and we’ve learnt a lot about statistics. A big thank you for your clear and precise guidance during the module and I’m sad to say Good Bye! You are the BEST facilitator I’ve had!”
Thank you very much again...
Best regards,
Tommy Lai

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What To Watch For When Choosing
E-Learning Programs

Though distance education has existed for some time in one form or another, once the magic words “on line,” “Web,” and “virtual” were added, learning outside of a classroom became a hot item. Spurred by a host of cutting-edge technologies, innovations in distance education took off, and an amazed and delighted public latched on in record numbers to this way of being taught. Its a boon to the education needs as the halls of the learned are being filled by distance students who otherwise probably could not have accessed higher education.

But along with the enormous potential that online learning offers, it’s undergoing tremendous change and as a result is shaking the very foundations of how education is/can or should be delivered. In this transition time, quality is not easy to measure.

Question: How will you, the potential e-learner (or the employer who is paying the fees), know you’re getting your money’s worth?

The bad news is there are no certainties - they’re still being printed.

Comparisons with the “old” is still under development and difficult. The many variables inherent in distance education programs also hinder easily or quickly checking quality. Course structures vary from email to video tape and print. Distance learning providers range from traditional institutionsto brand-new virtual universities. According to some experts, name recognition alone is not enough.

A small regional college might have stellar professors teaching their online courses who know the difference between the virtual and real classroom. Reputable colleges or universities may not offer quality online learning.

Question: Is the education provider accredited by a recognised accrediting agency?

Accreditation is the number one verification of the quality of the education provider be it in online or in taught mode.
As a wise consumer, you must be aware that not all accrediting agencies are equal or recognised. Accrediting agencies number in the hundreds, and the list grows longer
as unscrupulous institutions create their own accrediting agencies to get past consumers who look no further than the institution’s Website.

There are a number of ways to check on the legitimacy of the accrediting agency. The U.S. Department of Education (www.ed.gov) has a list of verified accrediting agencies as
does the Council For Higher Education Accreditation (www.chea.org). The Distance Education Training Council (www.detc.org) also can help you verify accrediting agencies.

Question: Will that certificate or credit be worth something?

For some trades such as teachers or nurses getting certificates, it’s critical to know if the recognition from the online education courses will suffice. Some questions to ask yourself: “Is the program recognised in your professional field? Will the course meet the requirements?” If in doubt, do check with the professional associations or peers who are in a similar field. PurpleTrain courses are accredited by established UK universities and US universities that have more than 100 years of experience behind them. The courses offered are selected after careful scrutiny in their feasibility for online delivery and the Learning Management System allows for monitoring of all students’ progress. To find out more, feel free to visit our web site www.purpletrain.com

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PurpleTrain.com Featured in Today Infotech Magazine

PurpleTrain.com is featured in the December 3rd - December 16th issue of TODAY INFOTECH magazine on the Cover Page and in the section ‘Adult Education’.

The article deals with how one can have access to an education while pursuing a full-time career. PurpleTrain was also featured as the e-learning service provider for one-stop business and information technology education programmes from diploma to master
programmes.

Watch out for more exciting news from PurpleTrain.com!

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International Diploma in Computer Studies Gets New Features

The IDCS programme will give students the ability to ‘pick and mix’ subjects, allowing them the freedom to explore the topics which will be of most benefit in developing their career.

The qualifications consists of 4 Core Modules and 4 Elective Modules (4 Projects). To get more concise information on the Core and Elective modules, please refer to the PurpleTrain web site at http://www.purpletrain.com

Course Duration
All Core and Elective Modules will be conducted over a period of 6 weeks.

Academic Advancement for students
The Diploma is an entry course level for the International Advanced Diploma in Computer
Studies. The International Diploma in Computer Studies is recognised by selected international Universities for Degree course credit exemptions. Diploma Holders who wish to further their studies should make individual application to the particular Institution of their choice who will consider cases individually.

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Improved International Diploma in Computer Studies (IDCS) programme offers students
the edge!

In consultation with PurpleTrain.com, NCC has made several improvements to the IDCS programme to ensure that it equips students with the skills they need to achieve their study and career ambitions.

These improvements are made after talks with Universities and Accredited Partners by looking closely at the skills required by the industry. These improvements give students taking the IDCS the edge for a successful career in the Information Technology field.

International Diploma in Computer Studies (IDCS) Programme Information

The IDCS is the first of 3 years in NCC Education’s career path leading to a London Metropolitan University Honours degree. The IDCS syllabus has been designed to be flexible. It can be run as a one-year full-time course, a part-time course or as a collection of short courses.

The IDCS is course is open to college leavers who wants to take a recognised diploma qualification in IT or their first step onto a degree programme. This diploma is also an ideal qualification for IT professionals looking to update their skills for practical work in computing, business skills and information processing.

Course Objective

The objectives of the course are to: -

• deliver well trained people with effective and practical business oriented IT skills capable
  of making a real contribution in the workplace.
  
• give students the opportunity to specialise in particular technical and business options
  through the use of Elective Modules.
  
• establish an international standard of high quality training leading to universally recognised qualifications.

What’s in it for IDCS Students?

• Duration of the course is reduced so that students can be qualified faster and progress
  to higher level programmes.
  
• Integration of project work into the elective modules allows for increased level of
  understanding and develops a wide range of skills.
  
• Reduction in student’s workload means more time to focus on achieving higher grades.
  
• Reduction in mathematics course load allows more time to explore more relevant topics.
  
• Inclusion of email and videoconferencing facilitates better communication.

KEY IMPROVEMENTS
IDCS will undergo 3 key improvements: -

Replacement of DPJ200 Practical Project
The module - “DPJ200 Practical Project” will be removed from the syllabus. DPJ200 be replaced by small projects as part of the 4 Elective Modules to allow students to develop more in-depth knowledge of the Elective Modules chosen.

Fewer Mathematics Assessments
Student will do fewer Mathematics assessments as these are less relevant to today’s IT graduates. Students will be able to spend more time focusing on developing the skills that
are valued by employers.