PulseLearning Inks Agreement With Leading U.S. Insurance Industry Association

31 March, 2009

Left to Right:
Jim Breen - PulseLearning, Brian Cowen - An Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), Hugh Cooney – Enterprise Ireland, Elizabeth Sprinkel - AICPCU

Dated: March 16, 2009

AxisBIC client PulseLearning, a leading Ireland-based provider of innovative learning solutions, today announced an agreement to develop customized eLearning and certification programs for the American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters and the Insurance Institute of America (the Institutes), leading U.S. not-for-profit organizations providing knowledge solutions and professional development services to the risk management and property-casualty insurance community. PulseLearning will develop programs to transition certain educational and professional certification programs from traditional, textbook-based instruction to an interactive, online model.

The news was announced following a business breakfast in New York City hosted by Enterprise Ireland, the Government Agency responsible for driving leadership and growth for innovative Irish companies in international markets. The event was one of several associated with a trade mission to the U.S. led by Ireland’s Prime Minister, Brian Cowen.

Jim Breen, PulseLearning’s founder and CEO, said the six- to- eight-month project will transform the Institutes’ learning solutions from a traditional, classroom-based format to an interactive, online modality resulting in learning programs that are more flexible, relevant, and readily accessible for the Institutes’ students and corporate customers.

“Despite the difficult economy in the U.S., the Institutes, like many companies and organizations, recognize that now may be the best time to offer people effective ways to strengthen skills, understand stringent regulations or processes, or extend professional credentials,” Breen said. “eLearning is highly effective in bringing value to the organization’s clients. It also boosts business revenue, lowers costs, and improves program quality and time to market.”

“The Institutes respond to the professional development needs of the insurance and risk management community,” said Elizabeth Sprinkel, senior vice president. “Our students and corporate customers demand efficient, cost-effective ways to fill knowledge gaps and stay current in the profession using our technical insurance content. PulseLearning’s eLearning expertise will help us satisfy that need with content that is consistent, timely, accurate, and affordable.”

Breen added that the company is exploring acquisitions and other mechanisms to expand its business profile in the U.S. “We emphasize Learning Solutions in financial, life science, and technology enterprises, and the U.S is home to world leaders in these markets. It is also a country comfortable with the notion of ‘learning anywhere,’ which is redefining the classroom—from the Internet to mobile devices. So the opportunities to teach are unlimited,” he said.