The Aditya Birla Group's vision is to be a premium global conglomerate with a clear focus on each business. Most of our businesses are today competing in global markets and are constantly endeavouring to better their performance to reach new heights of success. In order to realise the corporate vision, the Group pro-actively strives to create a learning organisation. Gyanodaya, the corporate university of the Group, endeavours to help managers increase their capacity to produce results in line with global benchmarks.

One such initiative, which attempts to release the potential of its employees, is the tie-up with Universitas 21 Global, headquartered in Singapore. This will provide managers an opportunity for earning an MBA degree online. Universitas 21 Global is a new e-university established as a joint venture between Universitas 21 (a consortium of 16 select internationally recognised universities) and Thomson Learning, a provider of tailor-made learning solutions for individuals and businesses worldwide.

The Aditya Birla group is a pioneer in India in adopting the concept of e-MBA which has become popular in countries like the US. "The Aditya Birla Group believes in creating on organisational ambience where talent can grow. We want our executives to earn while they learn. The offerings by Universitas 21 Global provide an opportunity for our executives to learn in a global business education environment," notes Dr Santrupt Misra, Director HR and IT.

Sixty-five managers have been nominated for the pilot programme that is under way at the Group. The programme will provide the managers with a global MBA degree. Conducted online, the MBA programme features a variety of learning activities and a high degree of communication between faculty and students. It imparts skills and tools in making well-informed business decisions, solving business problems, working in teams and developing strategic and tactical insights in managing businesses, processes and people.

"In the emerging business scenario, there is an urgent need to train managers in international business practices. Our online business education model allows executives to receive such education while carrying on their professional careers," says Mr. Mukesh Aghi, CEO, Universitas 21 Global. The Aditya Birla Group is one of the largest users of this e-learning initiative in India. Student managers who are taking part in this programme have found the faculty and the course material to be of international quality, with 24x7 accessibility. The student managers experience diversity, with eight to 10 nationalities in each batch, thus enriching the quality of discussions and team exercises.

To keep up with the pace of growth, the Aditya Birla group requires an ever-widening pool of management staff equipped with the latest management skills. This initiative will strengthen the process of capability building and leadership development.