Project Summary
Title	e-Learning for Life
Country	Malaysia
Area Focus	Education
Description	Establishment of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) "hubs" in six secondary schools, providing ICT connectivity and training to students and teachers to help them access new digital resources and opportunities
Beneficiaries	Over 10,000 students and their parents and teachers

In Malaysia, Coca-Cola is partnering with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Education in a project that focuses on the innovative and enjoyable use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for youth learning and community development.

The "e-learning for life" initiative provides Internet access, educational software and ICT training for students, teachers and local community members in peri-urban and rural areas. The project supports the Malaysian government's vision of building a knowledge-based economy and the Ministry of Education's drive to bridge the digital divide by bringing Internet access and e-learning resources to Malaysian classrooms and communities.

Six ICT "hubs," equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, multimedia resources and software, have now been set up in secondary schools across Peninsular Malaysia. Under the leadership of the Ministry of Education, these ICT "hub" schools are integrating computer lab-based training into existing curricula. A core group of teachers and students are also being trained so that they can then transfer their ICT skills to others in the hub area.

Coca-Cola provides financial support to the program, and sits on the project steering committee with the UNDP and the Ministry of Education. Technical support is provided by the Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP)/UNDP, which promotes ICT for social and economic development throughout the region.

To ensure that the project will continue to contribute to improvement in teaching and leaning, an E-Learning Resource and Competency Center has been established at one of the six ICT hubs established under the project. An E-Learning Center of Excellence has also been established at the School of Education Studies of the Science University of Malaysia in Penang as an R&D center for the project and to develop more teaching materials. Both centers were funded in 2003 by The Coca-Cola Company.

Ownership of the ICT hubs was officially turned over to the Ministry of Education on 31 Dec. 2003. The Ministry has also replicated the e-learning for life initiative at 5 primary schools located in rural area in Peninsular Malaysia which will benefit more than 5000 students and teachers.

Company Description

The Coca-Cola Company exists to benefit and refresh everyone who is touched by the company's business. Founded in 1886, Coca-Cola is the world's leading manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of nonalcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups, used to produce nearly 300 beverage brands. Its corporate headquarters are in Atlanta, with local operations in nearly 200 countries around the world. Coca-Cola's Asia operations cover 38 countries, including Japan, India, China, the Philippines, Thailand and Australia. The Asia Group accounts for 30 percent of The Coca-Cola Company's revenue, refreshes over half the world's population and provides total system employment to over 100,000 people.