Zeno Group and Online Marketing Institute launch digital e-learning programme

By Digital News Asia December 15, 2014

Starting with 3 certifications, aim to deliver region’s largest online library of content
Survey finds 87% of companies making closing digital knowledge gap a top priority

Zeno Group and Online Marketing Institute launch digital e-learning programme

ZENO Group and The Online Marketing Institute (OMI) have announced a partnership to deliver the ‘Asia Digital Marketing Essentials’ e-learning and certification programme.

Zeno’s goal to increase digital marketing and social media knowledge and capacity, for individuals and companies, in a sector of the industry that is growing rapidly, the company said in a statement.

Zeno trainers from across the Asia region will conduct over 100 hours of online training courses, which will be delivered via OMI’s e-learning platform. At each level, successful students will receive a certificate from OMI to show that they have met learning outcomes for a particular skill.

The Asia Digital Marketing Essentials programme has already launched with three certifications available: Asian Digital Landscape, Content Marketing and Digital Advertising.

Each certificate requires the student to engage with at least six hours of curriculum and pass a test, before being issued with a certificate of accomplishment from the OMI.

The partners expect to complete 12 certifications, covering the full spectrum of digital marketing skills, by the middle of 2015.

At over 100 hours in total, the OMI library of Zeno learning content will likely be the most comprehensive online body of knowledge about social media and digital marketing available to in-house and agency practitioners across Asia Pacific, the two parties claimed.

“With such a shortage of social and digital talent, we see insatiable demand to add new capability and capacity via thought leadership, on-demand for content and e-certifications,” said OMI founder and chief executive officer Aaron Kahlow.

“We see the demand for this new curriculum not only from US and European multinationals with offices in Asia Pacific, but also from millions of local companies and individuals across the region,” he added.

The Online Marketing Institute Annual Digital Talent Gap Study, which surveys over 1,300 marketing and HR (human resource) professionals, found that over 87% of companies have made closing the digital knowledge gap a top priority across the organization, and are investing more into programmes like e-learning to cost-effectively distribute that knowledge.

“As companies are now evolving to be social businesses that interact with customers, partners and staff in unprecedented ways, it is critical for business leaders to address this growing digital talent gap while empowering employees with a degree of digital literacy,” said Zeno Group Asia managing director John Kerr.

“In Asia’s highly complex and fragmented landscape, with greatly varying levels of digital marketing maturity, business leaders need to ensure that their teams are not only ready for digital transformation but able to navigate this complexity towards digital excellence,” he added.

The complete library will cover the specific nuances of planning and executing social and digital programmes in Asian markets including China, Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.

In addition, professionals will be able to learn from the premier global thought leaders around the globe.

All e-learning content will be available for paid subscribers at www.onlinemarketinginstitute.com.