Title: Utilising e-learning in Russian transport logistics sector

Authors: Milla Laisi, Olli-Pekka Hilmola, Eugene Korovyakovskiy, Andrey Simushkov

Addresses: Kouvola Research Unit, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Prikaatintie 9, FI-45100 Kouvola, Finland. ' Kouvola Research Unit, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Prikaatintie 9, FI-45100 Kouvola, Finland. ' St. Petersburg State Transport University, Moskovsky 9, RU-190031 Saint-Petersburg, Russia. ' St. Petersburg State Transport University, Moskovsky 9, RU-190031 Saint-Petersburg, Russia

Abstract: E-learning is grabbing a foothold as an innovative educational method. Its history leads back to the 1940s and the USA; however, the method only started to conquer the world in the 1990s. Since the creation of the World Wide Web in 1991, technology|s role has expanded annually. Today e-learning is widely utilised both in academia and the business world. The main advantages of e-learning are noted accessibility, cost effectiveness and amplitude of data. However, as all new phenomena, e-learning confronts barriers, which typically arise from cultural and technological contexts. Although the e-learning sector has been widely studied, the logistics sector has not gained further interest. This research tries to fill the gap by presenting a distance learning course organised for Russian (St. Petersburg) logistics specialists. Based on our initial experience, distance learning requires some workshop days (with real interaction between lecturers and students) as well as in non-English speaking countries, lectures are given in their mother tongue.

Keywords: e-learning; distance learning; railways; Russia; transport logistics; electronic learning; online learning; rail transport; logistics education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTL.2011.039380

International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics, 2011 Vol.3 No.2, pp.210 - 226

Published online: 21 Feb 2015 *

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