Ewha project builds leaders in e-business

Ewha Womans University will offer a special program for female Internet entrepreneurs in partnership with Samsung SDS Co. and Korea Venture Business Women's Association. The women's university hopes to roll out candidates who will become the equivalent of Meg Whitman, CEO of e-Bay Inc., a U.S.-based Internet auction company. Ms. Whitman has been listed as one of the most influential businesswoman in the United States in Fortune, a U.S. business magazine. Ewha University will hold a ceremony for the opening of the online educational program (www.ebizacademy.net) for women next Tuesday. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy contributed 1.9 billion won ($1.62 million) to the program. The online school will boast 35 educational courses that can accommodate 3,500 students. The courses will include a program that awards an "e-business professional license" after taking 10 classes during a four-month period. The Web site will recruit students, beginning on Feb. 17, and school opens on March 3. A single course will cost 50,000 won to 100,000 won, said Jung In-sung, a professor at Ewha University. Free online lectures will be available. "Although online business is an area where women can do well, they have been left out so far," said Kim Kyung-min, a professor at the school. "The program is expected to be especially beneficial to women who are married with children." Ewha University plans to offer online programs for chief executives next year and masters of business administration courses in 2005. The cyber MBA courses will award a degree. by Choi Ji-young