e-Learning at AIM

Eduardo Bonoan has been in the field of information technology for the last 15 years, almost all of it spent on the service provider side of the business, including eight years with multinational software vendor, Computer Associates. Seven months ago, he decided to switch sides and become the customer, assuming the post of executive managing director for information and communications technology of the Asian Institute of Management.

In his new role, Bonoan is expected to support AIM’s strategic direction toward e-Learning. "The strategic initiative will extend our reach beyond the four walls of AIM and allow us to offer different modalities for the delivery of business education. e-Learning is not simply plug and play. It needs a lot of preparation," he said.

The World Bank has appointed the business school as one of its centers for global distance learning. AIM will need to hook up to the World Bank network and comply with certain standards for connectivity and other distance learning requirements.

Partners

Bonoan’s objectives include building infrastructure that would be always available, robust, scalable and secure. Instead of using the so-called big bang approach, where a one-time investment is made to acquire a big capacity network, he’d rather build slowly and sign up partners along the way.

The school’s first partner is ePLDT with whom AIM recently signed a memorandum of understanding. "IT is not the core business of AIM. But it has an important role in delivering the business of AIM, which is education. Hooking up with PLDT allows us to achieve synergy between the content that AIM provides and the infrastructure and technology support ePDT already has and which we would not be able to put up ourselves," Bonoan said.

AIM has decided to migrate most of its systems to the web services type of platform to make them more location- and hardware-independent. Its website, www.aim.edu.ph, is no longer static but interactive, allowing visitors to communicate as well as to assess if they can qualify for certain programs.

Another project Bonoan looks forward to is a virtual library that can piggyback on AIM’s e-Learning facility. This will be done in cooperation with the Asian Development Bank, which has a gold mine of research information.

"Unfortunately, these papers do not reach ordinary researchers due to security considerations. But ADB recognizes the need for greater access. Since development management is one of the strengths of AIM, we might be able to do something to provide online access to ADB’s research materials," Bonoan said.

Intermediary

Asked what trait is necessary to succeed in such a post as his, Bonoan said: "Communication is key. About 90% of the time, top management do not have technical background. To get their support, I must communicate my needs in a fashion they can understand. I can’t talk like a geek. I feel I will succeed if I am able to communicate clearly."

An AIM graduate himself, Bonoan has never considered himself a technical person. "It’s a matter of achieving a balance between being able to understand technology and maintaining a general management approach. Many times, top management look at IT as a black box."

In his position, Bonoan acts like a bridge between the technical guys and top management. "While I translate from the technical standpoint to the laymen, I also need to translate what top management wants in a language that IT persons can understand. How will they apply certain things? How will they meet certain goals?"

Bonoan sees his group as an enabler of better decisions. "We want to increase the productivity of students, faculty and staff by providing them with the tools they require. In the end, our philosophy for ICT is simply to enable informed decision-making."

Gone are the days when the school’s IT department simply maintained automated typewriters for the students and staff. AIM expects to roll out full e-Learning programs in 2003.