Knowledge Platform, one of Singapore’s leading knowledge solutions companies, and Hand Enterprise Solutions, one of China’s leading IT consulting firms, and have entered into a joint venture agreement to establish Shanghai Hand Knowledge Platform.
Hand Knowledge Platform, the joint venture, will provide online and blended (online and face-to-face) learning solutions in China. The joint venture will provide a comprehensive four-part solution (strategy, content, technology, and support) for the educational and corporate sectors.
With the rapid rise in China in the use of the Internet and the wide-scale deployment of computing and communication infrastructure, and with China’s historically and culturally strong commitment to education and self-improvement, online and blended (online and face-to-face) learning is poised to grow very rapidly. At the same time, around the world, there is a considerable degree of innovation in both learner-centric learning and technology-driven learning. Hand Knowledge Platform uniquely combines the strengths of Knowledge Platform and Hand Enterprise Solutions to create a highly innovative and effective platform for next-generation learning.
Mahboob Mahmood, the founder and CEO of Knowledge Platform notes, “We are delighted and honored to form a joint venture with Hand Enterprise Solutions, which has been a leader in developing and deploying new technologies across China. Hand Enterprise Solutions not only has in-depth experience of providing technology-driven solutions in China, they have a large base of highly talented professionals, and an effective presence across China.”
Frank Fan and Dean Chen, the founders of Hand Enterprise Solutions, note: “Knowledge Platform has a demonstrated track record in designing and deploying innovative online and blended learning solutions across Asia, and their expertise spans instructional design, large scale content development, technology-driven classroom solutions, learning games and simulations, and development of learning management systems. The joint venture allows the two parties to create a very strong platform to serve the rapidly evolving educational and training sectors in China.”
Knowledge Platform and Hand Enterprise Solutions first discussed collaboration in 2005, and more recently have engaged in a series of successful pilots in China, before deciding to proceed with the joint venture. Moreover, OWW Capital Partners, one of Singapore’s leading venture capital funds, is an investor in Knowledge Platform, and was previously an investor in Hand Enterprise Solutions.
Tan Bien Chuan, co-Founder and Managing Director of OWW, notes, “We are delighted that Knowledge Platform and Hand Enterprise Systems have formed a joint venture in China. There is a lot happening in the field of next-generation learning, including adaptive learning, mobile and video based learning, collaborative learning, and blended online-traditional learning. At the same time, the unique educational and training sectors in China, require very deep local experience, both in terms of learning requirements and technology deployment. It has always been our philosophy to nurture synergies between companies within the OWW ecosystem, and we believe that there is a very natural fit between Knowledge Platform and Hand Enterprise Systems. The next ten years will see tremendous growth for e-learning and blended learning across China, and we fully expect Hand Knowledge Platform to lead that growth.”
About Knowledge Platform
Knowledge Platform is a leading pan-Asian knowledge solutions business. From its operational headquarters in Singapore, Knowledge Platform has, over the past fourteen years, built a stellar reputation in designing and delivering innovative and impactful learning solutions for both the educational and corporate sectors.
Knowledge Platform is one of the few companies in Asia-Pacific that provides end-to-end learning solutions: (1) learning strategy consulting; (2) learning content licensing and development; (3) learning technologies licensing and development; and (4) learning program support.
Over the years, Knowledge Platform has engaged in over fifty major learning strategy consultancies, developed over 1,800 online and blended learning courses in over thirty languages, and, in 2013, provided online learning technologies and support for over 350,000 licensed learners. Knowledge Platform has won local and international awards for both its learning content and technology solutions.
For additional information, please visit www.knowledgeplatform.com.
About HAND
Established in Shanghai in 1996, Hand Enterprise Solutions Co Ltd has grown into one of the most successful and largest IT consulting companies in Mainland China. Hand Enterprise Solutions now provides its enterprise clients with a wide range of solutions to help them to manage and optimize information and processes, including business process engineering, IT planning, IT support and maintenance, ERP software implementation, customization and integration of large-scale IT systems, web and mobile product development, and training and development.
Hand Enterprise Solutions has recently established the Shanghai Zhangjiang Technology Research Development and Training Base and the Software Outsourcing Development Base in Shanghai. Hand Enterprise Solutions also has branches in Shenzhen and Wuhan, offices in Beijing, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Chengdu and Qingdao, and wholly-owned subsidiaries in Japan and Singapore.
Hand Enterprise Solutions was successfully listed in the growth enterprises market of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange of China in February, 2011. With its listing, the company is now planning to further advance its leadership position in China in helping enterprises and individuals manage information, share knowledge, learn and innovate.
For additional information, please visit http://www.hand-china.com/.
About OWW
OWW Capital Partners is a Singapore-based venture capital fund that invests in South-East Asia and China. OWW provides expansion capital for companies in the enterprise and consumer services industry with particular focus on the IT, logistics, education/training, healthcare, financial services and consumer sectors. Its portfolio companies have included Goodpack Limited (recently acquired by KKR for US$1.1 billion), Hand Enterprise Solutions Co Ltd (listed on CHINEXT), and Emerio Globesoft Pte Ltd (acquired by NTT Communications Corporation).
For additional information, please visit http://www.oww.com.sg/.
CONTACTS
Knowledge Platform
Amaani Hamid
Director – Knowledge Communities