Virtual business e-learning: an approach to integrating learning and working

Learning is not restricted to formal education, and can take place anywhere and at any time. Only a small amount of professional knowledge and skills is acquired through formal education, for example secondary and higher professional training, university programmes or post-university courses (Baskett and Marsick, 1992). The bulk of knowledge and experience is acquired ‘on the job’. This process of informal learning takes place largely unconsciously (Coffield, 2000) and is intertwined with and embedded in work and daily routines (Marsick and Watkins, 2001).