Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/62913
technology GIBS Offers Online Modules THE GORDON INSTITUTE of Business Science in Johannesburg, South Africa, will make ten course mod- ules available through GIBSdirect, its recently launched online learning portal. For each module, students will be able to access lecture notes, articles, case studies, and faculty video, as well as discussion forums where they can interact with faculty and other students. Students can enroll in individual modules or in sev- eral at one time. They also can opt to complete all ten modules and then undergo a final assessment of their knowledge to earn the GIBS Programme for Manage- ment Development certificate. Although students are allowed to work at their own pace, they must complete each module within two months. "Our research and experience show that such dead- lines contribute to better completion rates" in online learning environments, says Sue Swart, GIBS digital marketing manager. This model of learning also opens GIBS' programs to students outside of Johannesburg, NEWSBYTES n ANALYTICS INSTITUTE In February, Indiana University's Kelley School of Business in Indianapolis opened its Insti- tute for Business Analytics, which will support academic programs, cross-disciplinary research, conferences, and case competitions in the emerging field of business analytics. The institute aims to study techniques such as pre- dictive analytics, optimization, and simulation to help compa- nies use data about their cus- tomers and processes in ways that improve their productivity and performance. 70 May/June 2012 BizEd n ONLINE MBA AT HOWARD n OP-ED SITE FOR USC The University of Southern Cal- ifornia has created ThinkUSC, an online digest of opinion- based commentary that its fac- ulty have contributed to print and online publications. The site will republish op-ed essays in full and ensure that they will remain accessible, even if the link to the original expires or requires readers to pay to read the piece in full. The site is available at think.usc.edu. Howard University in Wash- ington, D.C., accepted stu- dents into its inaugural online Executive MBA program this semester. The program con- sists of 42 credit hours and lasts 18 months. n EXAMINING E-MARKETING This spring, two schools launched programs that tar- get online marketing tactics. New York University's Stern School of Business added a digital marketing specializa- tion to its MBA program. The specialization links courses in Stern's marketing and information systems depart- ments. The David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City partnered with Online Marketing Gurus, a team of digital marketing experts and instructors, to offer a new Internet mar- keting certificate program. Launched in April, the pro- gram features instruction on interactive marketing tactics and the impact of Internet marketing on a firm. and it allows them to spread their educational expenses over a period of time. Each module costs 3,000 rand (about US$400). The first two modules offered through GIBSdirect include "Marketing and Financial Management" and "Leadership and People Management." The additional modules will be rolled out over the next year. For information about GIBSdirect, visit www.gibs. co.za/gibsdirect.aspx.