e-learning portal on retailing launched

Mumbai, May 16: Retailers Association of India (RAI) and GurukulOnline Learning SolutionsTM (GOLS), India's premier eLearning organization have come together to launch www.instituteofretailmanagement.com - an eLearning portal that will offer online courses in Retail for the very first time in India.

Modern retailing in India is currently witnessing a transformation where traditional markets give way to the emergence of department stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets, specialty stores and malls, according to a release here today.

Rated the fifth most attractive emerging retail market, India is being seen as a potential goldmine. India has also topped the Global Retail Development Index of 30 developing countries drawn up by A T Kearney. Retail is a sector that has registered phenomenal growth, and is poised to grow even further. However, the sector is facing a huge manpower crisis threatening all growth projections. The eLearning portal was conceptualized to help the sector overcome its people crisis.

Retailers Association of India CEO Gibson G Vedamani said, ''Retailing is a very significant industry in the country today with diverse business formats and ownership structures. Along with this explosive growth comes the greatest need of the industry - its quality manpower. I am sure this initiative of ours will provide the opportunity for students and professionals to attain proficiencies in retailing and help them have a bright retail career.'' The first course being launched is titled Certified Retail Professional course. It covers the fundamental aspects of organised Retail business and will be invaluable to those targeting a career in Retail. Developed by industry experts under the auspices of RAI, these courses are aimed at both students and professionals.

Mr Vedamani, further added, ''The added feature of the course 'Certified Retail Professional' is that it comes with a job guarantee, subject to the successful completion of the course. Once a candidate has successfully completed this course, he/she will be offered internship with RAI member companies. On successfully completing the internship, students shall be placed with leading retail organizations across India. We plan to launch many more such courses in the near future''.

UNI