_ FIRST WORD FROM ME

_ MICROSOFT'S TEACHER TRAINING CENTRE

Welcome to the first Cliftons Hong Kong enews for 2007. It is hard to believe we are into another year and 2006 is becoming just a memory! 2006 was an exciting year for Cliftons Hong Kong with the opening of a new facility at 9 Queen's Road Central and the Education and Manpower Bureau approval of its use by non-local higher and professional education providers (refer to the AGSM article for further details)

Cliftons also celebrated our 100,000th training day and substantially increased our Asia Pacific affiliate network and venue booking service to include locations in over 34 cities and 15 countries in the region.

Hong Kong also reached some impressive new milestones in 2006, ranking in the top 3 countries in the world for economic freedom, global competitiveness and human life expectancy! We also ranked in the top 5 for the dubious honour of most crowded road network and highest number of mobile phones per capita.

It will be exciting to see what 2007 and the Year of the Pig holds for us all.

The Year of the Pig begins on 17th February 2007 and signals a time of fun and self-indulgence. The Chinese horoscope indicates we are more likely to spend up on luxurious vacations, sumptuous meals and fine clothing this year, paying for it in 2008. What ever your plans for the year ahead – good luck with your New Year resolutions and have an enjoyable and profitable 2007!

Vanessa Griffiths-Green
General Manager, Asia

The Microsoft Partners in Learning (PiL) Grants Program is designed to support the efforts of government and education leaders to bridge the digital divide in teaching and learning. The program will facilitate training, online forums, seminars and exhibitions to enhance the teaching and learning environment in schools and further integrate

IT in the curriculum for enhanced learning experience. 

Support for government and education leaders involves centres offering training that address teachers' specific needs. In addition, Microsoft will also provide access to software, hardware, trainers and IT curriculum. 

Working together with Hong Kong Education City, Microsoft is providing a free and convenient online platform for teachers in the primary and secondary school levels to source suitable Project Based Learning (PBL) curriculums. This online platform aims to help teachers to master the use of IT more effectively, improve their leadership skills, develop high quality digital teaching resources, improve IT infrastructures in schools and promote innovative teaching methods.

_ HOW DOES THE MICROSOFT TEACHER TRAINING CENTRE WORK?

A series of technology training, tailored to address the specific needs of teachers, are offered for free to teachers on a regular basis. Teachers trained through this program are expected to become Teacher Leaders who will then train, mentor and coach others in their school. Microsoft will provide resources and offer incentives for teachers to complete such training.

Teacher Training Centres will complement the IT development of teachers with its six specially designed computer training tracks focused on Application, Mobile and Wireless, Networking and Infrastructure, Security, e-Learning and Microsoft Certified Professional, etc.

Further details, including schedules and information on how to register, can be found at www.microsoft.com/hk/education

_ AGSM CELEBRATES 10 YEARS IN HONG KONG

In 1997 the Australian Graduate School of Management in Hong Kong offered it’s first MBA program. Since then over 300 graduates have completed the part time program and 2007 is their tenth anniversary. The AGSM’s long held reputation as Australia’s leading business school and one of Asia’s top-tier schools attracts highly talented students and internationally acclaimed faculty members from around the world. Their alumni include Chris Bresnahan, VP of Hubs, Asia Pacific, DHL International; Chuck Chan, Global Sales Manager, PCCW Ltd; and Peggy Poon, Senior Project Manager, AXA China Region Insurance Co. Ltd. 

As part of the Faculty of Business at the University of New South Wales, the AGSM is recognised for its award winning research, teaching excellence and thought leadership. If you are seeking a flexible MBA program delivered in intensive modules which allow you to balance work and travel commitments, please consider the AGSM’s HK MBA.  

All classes are held at Cliftons in Central, which is convenient for evening and weekend classes. The combination of core and elective courses allows you to tailor your program to meet your work needs and your interests. 

Peter Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered, Asia awarding 2006 graduate William Liang “The Outstanding Achievement Award”

_ CONGRATULATIONS BILLY!

Congratulations Billy Lam (pictured above with Cliftons General Manager Asia, Vanessa Griffiths-Green), Senior Technical Analyst from OOCL! Billy attended the AGSM MBA Program at Cliftons earlier this year and is the lucky winner of our Breakout Competition. Billy took home a Samsung 32” LCD TV and home theatre system – just in time for Christmas!   

Cliftons are pleased to support our international course providers with a licensed venue in Central. Under HK law, all non-local higher and professional education courses leading to the award of non-local higher academic or professional qualifications must be properly registered. Part of this registration relates to the premises a course can be conducted in. Cliftons Central facility has undergone rigorous assessment and been approved by the Buildings Department which enables non local higher eduction institutions to gain EMB approval and registration.

What will you do with your new LCD TV and home theatre system?
“I decided to place it in my master bedroom and connect it to my PC in order to setup an internet enabled multimedia centre.” 

Why did you want to win this prize?
“Actually, I planned to setup an internet enabled home theatre since last year. This Xmas present arrived just in time!” 

What do you do at / for work?
“I am an IT team leader and am managing a team to develop IT solutions.” 

Is there anything you particularly like or dislike about the Cliftons Central facility?
“My impression is that Cliftons is a well established and well equipped centre. In terms of the facility, it is one of the best training centres I have been in.”  

**********
Thank you to all those that entered the competition ... keep an eye on our website (www.cliftons.com) and in our eNewsletters for your next chance to win with Cliftons!

To find out more attend one of AGSM's Information Evenings - 
 E: contact@agsm.com.hk  or T: (852) 2593 9902

_ MEASURING THE ROI OF TRAINING

_ STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Today’s tight labour market is an issue for employers. One of the most effective ways to keep employees happy, focussed, motivated and committed is continuous training and development. Educated employees are happy employees … while the cost of an ongoing training program may not be a financial priority for an organisation, the cost of not investing in your staff is guaranteed to be higher. 

Initially, measuring the effectiveness and ROI may seem a daunting and complex task – it doesn’t have to be! Here are 5 steps that will assist you with this vital task:

1| POST-COURSE SURVEY
A simple, post-course survey to measure participant’s initial reaction sounds fairly commonsense, but you’d be surprised how many organisations don’t do it! Questions should relate to the content, the effectiveness of the instructor, the pace, the facility, etc.

Ramona Lam is Cliftons Central Facility Manager. She can be reached on
2159 9908

2| TEST THE MATERIAL
Are your participants actually taking in the content? Test the material with follow up quizzes. Interview your instructor post-course for an evaluation.

Favourite pastime: Having fun with my cat

Favourite fruit: Pineapple

Favourite cuisine: Western style

Favourite sport: Badminton

Can't live without: Music

If I had 1000 million dollars I would: Buy a new house

When I was young I wanted to be a: Lawyer

3| LONG-TERM ASSESSMENTS
Can you see improvements within the team post-course? Are they using their newfound skills? Again, simple yet vital questions! By analysing your program over a period of time, you can see what’s working and what’s not. Other long-term data can include the effect on staff turnover, general morale, etc.

4| BUSINESS IMPACT
Now we’re talking actual figures! By utilising your long-term assessments such as staff turnover and retention, estimate the effect on the business. For example, in an organisation of 200 employees, a 4% reduction in staff turnover is 8 less employees to recruit and train. Taking all costs into consideration (recruitment fees, lack of productivity during training, etc) the cost of hiring a new recruit is around $300,000. The business impact on the new training program? A $2,400,000 saving!

5| THE ACTUAL ROI
Knowing your business impact and the cost of your program, you can now work out your ROI. The ROI is more then just a figure – it’s a tangible way to measure the effectiveness of the program, make adjustments and keep your employees happy, focussed, motivated and committed.

Given the shortage of IT skills in the marketplace and employees' demands to keep their skills fresh, failing to comprehend the importance of measuring the effectiveness of training programs is not a viable option within a successful organisation.

_ UPCOMING EVENTS

Macau Business Development
Organiser: The British Chamber of Commerce
Date: 17^th Jan 2007
Location: Cliftons Central
Details: Click here

Event Management 101  
Organiser: The British Chamber of Commerce
Date: 18^th Jan 2007
Location: Cliftons Central
Details: Click here

Risk Management for SMEs
Organiser: The British Chamber of Commerce
Date: 25^th Jan 2007
Location: Cliftons Central
Details: Click here