E-learning with Chinese learners: A model for Western service providers in this important marketplace

The purpose of this paper is to consider what changes are needed in the e-learning provided by 'western' service providers to make it more effective and successful with Chinese people. Extensive research was carried out in Ireland and China to help understand the way Chinese people learn, and the implications for e-learning. The insights gained indicated the sort of changes required to e-learning for the very significant Chinese marketplace. This marketplace includes universities, larger corporations and government departments and agencies in China, for example, as well as Chinese students studying in western countries. This paper discusses the factors which are significant for e-learning providers in catering for this market. An e-learning prototype has been developed incorporating the modifications as recommended by the authors. At present the model is being tested and the results obtained are being analyzed. We hope to present more detailed results in the near future