Asia is facing a booming economy. With rapid growth rates, thrust on improving infrastructure, rapid strides in the field of telecommunications, be it wired phones or mobile telephony and information and communications technologies, Asia is positioned to usher in a knowledge revolution. The ambience is absolutely ripe to bring in not only appropriate technologies but also the private sector players and solution providers at level playing field to contribute to this positive growth phase. Digital Learning plans to review the progress made, and will focus on Asia in the coming two months. While reviewing how the governments have envisioned policies and programmes, the attempt is to bring to the readers a first hand coverage of the different ecosystem players. In Thailand, for example, we found that the thrust has been to develop systems that will apply across the country and follow rigorous online learning standards, conforming to internationally accepted practices. This dream can be realised by emphasizing shifts in the learning- paradigms, as well as by creating appropriate technological environment. Whether using television for learning, or building a sophisticated content and learning management system, the Ministry of Education, Government of Thailand, has been pioneering innovations and collaborating with multi-stakeholder partners to realise their vision. The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of ICT are working hand-in-hand to provide the appropriate policy environment, and promoting the establishment of the standards. The tools and technologies have been identified, and as a forward-looking developing country, Thailand is looking for innovative options. Exciting experiments are on. We are planning to cover a series of focussed articles in the coming issues of Digital Learning from Thailand in particular, and Asia in general, beginning with the March issue. An Asian perspective of e-Learning can be built by reviewing these efforts by the ecosystem players closely and bringing in a partnership of the many stakeholders. In order to obtain a better understanding and showcasing the ongoing efforts in the Asian emerging e-Learning scenario, Digital Learning will be organising the Conference on Digital Learning Asia from April 26-28, 2006. Thailand’s Ministry of Education is supporting organisation for this event. The Ministry of ICT is hosting the conference. With their leadership, as well as an eminent panel of Advisors, this conference is emerging as a key platform for sharing and showcasing. The special pull out in this edition of the Digital Learning magazine profiles these events. We look forward to many of the readers of Digital Learning marking their calendars and making this their destination for this event.
