Still shaky about taking a course totally online? Hear what Mohsin and Rabia, two siblings from Pakistan, have to say on their e-learning experience with PurpleTrain.com.

Mohsin Iqbal, 22, Junior Software Engineer
Rabia Iqbal, 21, Teaching Assistant
Studied the same course and completed the course at same time. Earned an Advanced Diploma in Computer Studies from Informatics, Lahore, Pakistan in April 2000 and subsequently signed up for PurpleTrain's online programme, Bachelor of Science (Hons) Computing by University of Portsmouth, UK. Successful completed the course in April this year. Mohsin graduated with a First Class Honours and Rabia with a Second Class Division II.

Mohsin: "No longer do I have to rush for a class session or accommodate my tight schedules to fit into others timetable for a discussion session. With e-learning, I can study at my own way and learn at my own pace. I will never miss a class, as the chat log will always be there for my easy reference and revision. In other words, it provides me the flexibility of doing things the way I wanted to without disrupting my existing schedule. It's so user friendly and therefore help me to manage my daily life more efficiently."

Rabia: "The things that I like most about e-learning is its mode of delivery which allows free flow of information amongst course-mates and facilitators. Therefore serving as a platform that maximizes effective communications across the board.

I feel comfortable with e-learning because it gives me more confidence in asking questions and brings me closer to my classmates and facilitators from around the world. It has broadened my horizons and enabled me to view things from different perspectives.

The best thing about e-learning is that I can access the cyber classroom from anywhere in the world. I do not have to be there physically but are still able to gain access to all the information and course materials with just a click of a mouse. It is more time saving and cost effective in the long run."

On e-Learning:

Anette:
"I think the flexibility, freedom and support that students get when they needed are some of the key benefits of e-learning. I especially like the fact that students can choose the way of studying ~ online, at their own pace. Students can always go back over things and refer to the course notes whenever they are ready."

Peter:
"It (e-learning) is a very exciting innovation. It gives freedom and flexibility to the students. It's a powerful tool in reaching out to the people from around the world…

"The quality of the work that they (students) do is absolutely first grade. The growth in student number is superb, from a relatively small number of 25 to almost 1000 now. E-Learning brings education to many people who otherwise would not be possible."

On the quality of Portsmouth's students:

Cheryl:
"The quality of our students is improving every time; quality of works of Informatics/PurpleTrain is improving every time. And I think that the experience that the students have of having a UK education in another country is a fantastic opportunity!"

Message to the students:

Anette: "Take the opportunity!"

And for those who have not joined the e-community, she says: "Try it. Take the education challenge and you will like it."

Peter: "I would like to say congratulations & well done! You are making good choices."

Not teleconferencing, but RACCOON. Yes! It is the latest technology that PurpleTrain has adopted recently.

Using RACCOON, one of the award-winning virtual classroom software, PurpleTrain recently tested on its functionality at its monthly Forum cum Award Ceremony.

This is slightly different from the traditional setting. We used to call a meeting only when everybody is available in person, later with the advance of technology people start to use teleconferencing or video conferencing. And today, we are one step further. With the introduction of RACCOON, it allows better flow of communications, providing cost effective and time saving facilities which is affordable to all.

WHY RACCOON?

"The new software is named after the mammal due to its unique characteristic. As RACCOON eats anytime, this communication tools can be used anytime too by any users of PurpleTrain.com," describe Dr Wong Tai, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PurpleTrain.com.

RACCOON offers a complete set of capabilities for live e-Learning in a scalable, extensible, and easily deployed web application. It is ideal for highly interactive team collaboration, virtual classrooms, and hands-on training applications, each event can support more than a hundred simultaneous users in a live, structured environment. Therefore making the knowledge-sharing methods more fun and exciting than the traditional taught class learning.

Students of PurpleTrain.com will soon enjoy this value-added software to enhance the existing online chat facilities.

Soon PurpleTrain's valued students, facilitators and strategic partners will be given a free email account for life.

MyMail is a free and convenient Web-based email service provided to all PurpleTrain's e-community. MyMail is based on the premise that e-mail access should be easy and possible from any computer connected to the World Wide Web. By adhering to the universal Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) standard, MyMail eliminates the disparities that exist between different e-mail programmes.

Sending and receiving e-mail from MyMail is as easy as going to the PurpleTrain Website @ www.purpletrain.com, signing in, and sending an e-mail message. By using a Web browser as a universal e-mail programme, MyMail brings your personal information to you in a globally retrievable form.

Students of PurpleTrain will be given a personal yourname@mailbox.purpletrain.com email address. Facilitators and strategic partners will also be given yourname@assoc.purpletrain.com email account.

You will be able to keep your MyMail account as long as you continue to use MyMail. Your address will be the same even if you moved, graduated from PurpleTrain, changed Internet Service Providers or jobs. You will have one permanent email address for life.

Existing students of PurpleTrain.com can expect a notification once this email facility is activated. A Login name will be given with a preset password. Students can then change the password for security purposes.

It is PurpleTrain's commitment to continually enhance our services. We would also like to assure students and strategic e-learning partners that PurpleTrain is dedicated in providing quality lifelong e-learning services to better serve our pool of e-community.

Happy e-mailing!

Be the first few to benefit from the world-class expertise from one of the most prestigious universities in the world! UC Berkeley Extension's programmes are now available online via PurpleTrain.com. Programmes offered are: Diploma in E-Commerce Business & Technology Diploma in Computer Information Systems: Analysis & Design

University of California Berkeley Extension (UCBE), located at ground zero of the global Internet revolution in Southern California, is the continuing education branch of the University of California, Berkeley (UCB). Founded in 1891, Berkeley Extension is one of the largest and most highly regarded continuing education programs in the country.

The beauties of these programmes:

• Total Convenient & Flexibility: Students do not have to travel to class but are still able to attend classes fully online conducted by highly qualified instructors approved by the UC Berkeley Academic Senate from the university;
• Stimulating Learning: The programmes combine an instructional narrative illustrations, and interactive exercises. In addition, students taking E-Commerce can expect a 60-minute of video case studies, specially shot for this programme and available over the Web, which will give students a real sense of the physical and operational sides of virtual businesses;
• Credits Transfer: Students may transfer their credits to the following institutions subject to the university's approval:

  o New York Institute of Technology
  o New York Regent College
  o Ohio University
  o State University of New York
  o Thomas A.Edison State College
  o University of Nevada, Reno
  And more …

Did you know?

• University of California Berkeley Extension is the largest provider of continuing education
• Berkeley's academic departments consistently rank among the top five in the country. The faculty, renowned for both teaching and scholarship, includes seven Nobel Laureates and 18 MacArthur Fellows.
• Berkeley ranks first nationally in the number of graduate programmes in the top 10 in their fields. (97% of Berkeley's programmes made the top 10 list.) Source: National Research Council
• Berkeley ranks first nationally in the number of "distinguished" programmes for the scholarship of the faculty [32 programmes] Source: National Research Council

UC Berkeley Extension is the name you can count on!

Quotes from UCBE

Keen to upgrade yourself? Why not sign up for a library of courses and learn as much as you can in a period of ONE year.

• More than 460 courses ranging from IT, Business & Professional Skills Development
• Study at your own time, at your own pace

For more information
Call PurpleTrain's 24-Hr Programmes Enquiry Hotline: (65) 90674311
Email: enquiry@purpletrain.com

PurpleTrain.com has launched four American online completion programmes, the FIRST e-learning platform to do so in the region. These include the Associate of Science Degree in Business Management, the Bachelor of Science in Business Management, the Associate of Science Degree in Information Technology and the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (IT).

These degrees are offered by the prestigious and established Salem International University (SIU), a private, independent liberal arts college based in West Virginia. Salem International University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

"We are the very first in this region to bring you a quality range of online degree programmes from the US," said Ms Sophy Malik, Executive Director of PurpleTrain.com. "This exclusive collaboration will not only enable students from around the world to gain global recognition from an established American university without leaving their home towns, but also provides another means of earning a degree totally online."

Delivered fully online via PurpleTrain.com, all four programmes are designed for today's professionals who are strongly ambitious, goal oriented, forward thinking and always on the go. It's especially appealing to frequent travelers as well as busy executives who find it difficult to fit in traditional classroom style of learning with their busy schedules.

The benefits of these programmes include:

• Programmes are equivalent to taught mode

• Classes are conducted by highly qualified professors from SIU

• Small class size of 25 students per chat session to ensure smooth facilitation

• Short Duration of 2.5 years to obtain a Bachelor's degree from a diploma level

• Students can take these courses concurrently with their diploma programmes. Students can also take up these programmes at any stage of their learning

• Credits earned are transferable and recognised by most US colleges and universities

• More time saving and cost-effective by doing the top-up courses through PurpleTrain.com

  • Advanced Diploma graduates need only 24 weeks to complete the Associate Degrees
  • Associate Degree graduates need only do 10 more courses to earn a Bachelor Degree

And the good news is students can now opt to continue the degrees either ONLINE via PurpleTrain.com or ON-CAMPUS in West Virginia, USA or BOTH!

"Whether your interest is corporate, entrepreneurial, personal or scholarly in nature, our programmes provide an in-depth knowledge of the values, skills and practical applications that are unique to the contemporary business/IT environment," emphasized Ms Malik.

Quotes from SIU

IT Courses:

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (Information Technology) by Salem International University, USA
• Associate of Science in Information Technology by Salem International University, USA
• Diploma in E-Commerce Business and Technology by University of California Berkeley Extension, USA
• Diploma in Computer Information Systems: Analysis & Design by University of California Berkeley Extension, USA

Business Courses:

• Bachelor of Science in Business Management by Salem International University, USA
• Associate of Science in Business Management by Salem International University, USA

HOTSELLERS

• Bachelor of Science in Computing (Honours) Degree by University of Portsmouth,UK
• Master of Business Administration by University of Wales, UK

About PurpleTrain.com

PurpleTrain.com is Asia's first e-learning service provider offering a one-stop service for Business and IT education programmes, corporate training courses and education-related services.

By combining innovative technology with world-class training content, PurpleTrain.com delivers anytime, anywhere learning. It offers both companies and individuals a high value, quality and effective online training solution. Over 1000 online courses are available, ranging from certificate, diploma, degree to master programmes, in business and information technology as well as technology and business training & development courses. Our e-community now stands at over 42,000 users, globally.

Look out for more of PurpleTrain.com's continuous efforts to provide more and even better services to our students. To be added into our mailing list, write to pr@purpletrain.com.

For more information, visit www.purpletrain.com or email pr@purpletrain.com