Promoted by Parque Tec and utilizing a cutting-edge methodology in e-learning, E-Training Corp. develops online study solutions.

It is very common for a professor to be confronted with students complains and excuses justifying the absence and unpunctuality in classes. This situation was usual for the informatics professor Dave Scott, who thought about the need for a tool that allows the students to receive training without the need of moving to another physical location.

This experience was the basis for creating the “virtual lectures”, a system that allows the development of Internet-based courses and training programs. These virtual courses and training sessions would be adapted to the student’s availability of time, according to their obligations and needs.

This system, for many years available in other countries, just has been developed in Costa Rica in 2005, when this informatics solution was taken over by a young innovative Costa Rican with the support of Parque Tec.

A novel educational process

Two years ago, Dave Scott “discovered” the existence of Parque Tec through the media and he didn’t think twice to get in contact with the incubator to develop his idea. Fortunately, his project was approved and it started taking shape.

After six months of intensive work, a first client knocked on his door: a group of teachers from Puntarenas were in need of an online training course for web-programming. Since the target communities of this course were scattered around, it was very difficult, almost impossible, to arrange a class on a determined schedule. They opted for the e-training solution and “the project was so successful that two more groups of teachers asked for the same service and, since then, we did not run out of work”, comments the young businessman.

E-training Corp., considered a pioneer company in e-training, provides innovative training products and services, through which the participants of the Internet-based courses can acquire knowledge that helps enhancing their professional skills.

At the moment, 90% of E-training’s clients belong to the computing sector. Nevertheless, the company also developed training systems for organizations dealing with client services, domestic violence, and training and consultancy for ISO certification, among others.

Regarding the versatility of this company, Scott proudly explains: “we can do our work for all types of clients; our task is, basically, to adapt the contents to the development of a virtual course; the edition, the activities, and the evaluation processes vary”.

Presently, the company has four employees: one is in charge of the technical maintenance and administrative issues; another one is exclusively responsible for the programming area; one administrative and marketing manager; and another member, besides taking on marketing issues, manages the social projection of the company.

The strategic alliance with DEDESYS, another company incubated in Parque Tec, serves for the development of joint projects, whenever a mutual support is required. Dave comments, “Through his company, Marco helps us with some technical elements of the different software we use, forms for online payments, among other services.”

E-training Corp.: with a social vision

Following the values of “making a contribution that strengthens society”, the entrepreneurs of this company have decided to add efforts to the intellectual and professional development of young people that have been excluded from the formal educational system or, for any other reasons, had to abandon their studies.

An initial project is being developed in the province of Limón and consists of a training-platform for young people in the areas of tourism and English language, as well as a training program, provided by the Costa Rican Tourism Board (Instituto Costarricense de Turismo), for the certification of environmentally sound hotels.

In the long run, the main social objectives of this selfless professor (Mr. Scott), who is now a successful businessman, are the creation of additional systems and courses that enable the inclusion of more Costa Ricans into the labor market and, thus, to contribute to their personal and professional development.

Beyond the borders

With the purpose of developing virtual education systems in Nicaragua, Dave Scott is presently forging business contacts and alliances with companies in this country. Furthermore, Dave Scott expresses the “aim of an enhanced presence and visibility of the company in the domestic market, so it can leverage its insertion process into the international markets.”

His project, developed with the aim of eliminating the time, space, and cost barriers of conventional training courses and providing a flexible learning model that motivates people in overcoming their own limitations, gets stronger from day to day.

According to Dave Scott and his team, there are only two essential requirements to be part of a virtual education program: “the first one is the wish in overcoming the own limitations and evolving professionally and, secondly, to have an Internet access.”

Business Profile

Name of the company: E-Training Corp.
Founding year: 2005
Founder: Dave Scott
Stage of the project: on the market
Description: E-training Corp. is a pioneer company in the area of education in new software development technologies that uses an online methodology as a medium for an efficient knowledge appropriation by the persons participating in an educational program.

Logotype of the company

Quotations

“We can work for all types of clients”

“To develop contributions that strengthen society”