Published Thursday 23 April 2009 by Lisa Vincent

Simon Fitzpatrick and Trish Murray represented Netskills at the First International Conference for e-learning and Distance Learning in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last month. They co-delivered a two-day e-Learning Design & Delivery workshop for 25 participants.

Simon said, "We were part of a group of around 20 academics and developers from Europe, America and Asia, all delivering pre-conference events."

The workshops were based at the National Centre for e-Learning and Distance Learning, fully equipped with state of the art audio-video facilities which were used to broadcast Simon’s presentations to another training room where Trish was facilitating an all female group. The male audience were all from various parts of Saudi Arabia and included a number of academics, e-learning developers, commercial training managers and some military trainers.

Simon added, "Once the workshops had finished we managed to venture into the old part of the city and visit the souks. It was amazing with countless alleys and passages full of tiny shops selling carpets, suits, gold, incense and plenty more. Watching and hearing the call to prayers was also a memorable experience."

Simon concluded, "It was a great trip! Our accommodation was fabulous and our hosts looked after us incredibly well, arranging a series of events all with sumptuous food. After a final feast on the Sunday night, 24 hours later I was back walking my dog on a Northumbrian hillside where the air temperature was just a touch cooler!"

Find out more: http://eli.elc.edu.sa/2009/356-ennews