Ever wanted to do a programme from a top management institute like the Indian Institute of Management or the Xavier's Labour Relations Institute, but do not have the time to spare?

Well there is hope for you. They are coming to your city. Thanks to DWGE or DirecWay Global Education.

And we are not talking e-learning or a distance-learning programme, but something called Interactive Onsite Learning (IOL).

Interactive Onsite Learning (IOL) is an education platform provided by DirecWay Global Education (DWGE), an education initiative of Hughes and one of the world's leading broadband service provider for the consumer and corporate segment.

DWGE in India has tied up with premier management schools like IIFT Delhi; IIM Bangalore; IIM Calcutta; IIM Kohzikode; IIT Delhi; Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal; NMIMS Mumbai; and XLRI Jamshedpur to provide educational programmes to fresh graduates and working professionals.

According to Pankaj Aggarwal, head (marketing), DWGE, unlike other e-learning or distance learning offerings, in these programmes the interactivity is very similar to a live classroom session, where a student, sitting in any part of the country, at any given point can interact freely with the professor, ask questions, and get answers immediately.

This interactivity is possible due to the satellite and technology network by Hughes, providing one-way video and two-way audio facility to students. Thus, in an IOL environment a student participates in the learning process and receives individual attention, even when the instructor and the student are at different locations.

The various programmes offered through DWGE are a blend of lectures, theme presentations and case studies. In order to make the learning highly effective, frequent online quizzes and tutorial sessions form a part of the instructions.

Depending on the programme on offer and the B-school, students are supplied with textbook s and reading materials well in advance to prepare them to make the best use of classroom learning.

All the students are provided reference facilities in major libraries in their respective cities. Additionally a back -end learning management system (LMS) provides opportunity for self or instructor-led offline learning. The LMS portal also has self-paced learning quizzes and CBT (computer based training) for use by the participants.

According to Aggarwal, apart from the benefits of getting a degree from a top ranked institution, the student can, even while traveling to another city, attend classes in that city.

And the numbers being notched up are probably indicative of the success of the initiative. Starting off with just 14 students in 2002, DWGE today has over 2,500 students in May 2005. From just 4 classrooms in 2002 across the country, DWGE today has 42 classrooms across 30 cities in the country.

This apart, Hughes DirecWay has also set up global placement services (GPS) that provide placement support and services to all its students and till date all its students have been placed.

Salaries too are top notch. According to Aggarwal one of the students was taken by the Big Blue (IBM) at an annual package of Rs 15 lakh (Rs 1.5 million).

The institutes and the courses they offer

IIM Kozhikode: In May 2002, IIM Kozhikode became the first Management Institute in India to offer a Management Programme (Executive Management Education Programme - eMEP) over the Hughes DirecWay platform. Over 500 professionals have taken up the 10-month programme.

Courses offered are:

• eMEP (PGCPM): Post-Graduate Certificate Programme in Management.
• eMEP (PGCSM): Post-Graduate Certificate in Sales and Marketing.

IIM Calcutta: The Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC) was established as the first national institute for post-graduate studies and research in management by the Government of India in November 1961.

It has been playing a pioneering role in professionalising Indian management through its post-graduate and doctoral level programmes, executive training programmes, research and consulting activities.

Courses offered are:

• EPBM: A One-Year Executive Programme in Business Management.
• PDSS: A one-year Programme for Development of Strategic Skills (PDSS).
• PDSE: A one-year Programme for Development of Successful Entrepreneurs (PDSE).
• PLAM: Programme for Leading and Managing (PLAM).

IIM Bangalore: The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore was established in 1973. Today, IIMB is recognised as India's best business school. Its world-class infrastructure provides the foundation for its programmes of teaching, research, consulting and other professional services.

Courses offered are:

• Executive General Management Programme (EGMP) for working executives.
• Certificate Course on Finance for non Finance Executives.
• Modular Programme on Practical Management of Indirect Taxation for Working Executives.

XLRI, Jamshedpur: XLRI, one of India's premier management institutes, in August 2002 announced the launch of a Post-Graduate Certificate in Business Management (PGCBM). This programme is designed for high potential mid-career managers moving up to the next level in business management.

Courses offered are:

• PGCBM: Post-Graduate Certificate in Business Management.
• PGCFM: Post-Graduate Certificate in Financial Management.
• PGCSM: Post-Graduate Certificate in Software Management.
• PGCHRM: Post-Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management.

IIFT, Delhi: One of the top 10 management institutes in India, IIFT Delhi offers to working executives one of its most sought after programmes on the DirecWay Global Education Interactive Onsite Learning platform -- Executive Masters in International Business, or EMIB.

Executive Masters in International Business, or EMIB

Manipal University: This largest private education initiative in India will offer a one-year Executive MBA Programme on the DirecWay Global Education platform.

• Other Courses offered are MBA-FS, PGDBM.
• eMBA
• MBA - Financial Services.
• PGDBM -- Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Management.
• MBA -- Global Management.

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (Deemed University): NMIMS has been rated as one of the top 10 institutes in the country, with excellent brand value, intellectual capital, infrastructure and focus towards growth. (Business India, October 2002).

PGDGM offered by NMIMS is a 14-month programme designed specifically for working executives and is tailor made for all those who want an edge without quitting their current job and without compromising on the faculty or the institute from which they would like to acquire the necessary knowledge.

• PGDGM -- Post-Graduate Diploma in General Management.
• PGDM -- Post-Graduate Diploma in Management.

IIT Delhi: The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi is one of the seven IITs created as centres excellence for higher training, research and development in science, engineering and technology in India.

• Course offered: CEP Course on Project Management.