LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Pearson has bought U.S. educational services company EmbanetCompass for $650 million in cash to bolster its position in the fast-growing online learning market.

Pearson, which also publishes Penguin books and the Financial Times, has been building up its education businesses through acquisitions.

Will Ethridge, chief executive of Pearson North America, said that buying EmbanetCompass, from an investor group led by Technology Crossover Ventures and Knowledge Universe, increased Pearson's presence in online education and educational services, two areas where it saw opportunities for growth.

EmbanetCompass, which was founded in 1995 and is expected to have revenues of about $130 million this year, provides online products for more than 100 university programmes, including course design, student recruitment and technology support, Pearson said on Tuesday.

Jefferies analyst David Reynolds said it would be hard to describe a better strategic fit for Pearson, but the company was paying a full price.

"On the one hand it looks like a great deal," he said. "But it's difficult to escape the observation that it is paying $650 million for a company that's doing $130 million of revenue in 2012. That strikes me as being expensive."

The transformation of Pearson into an education-led company has been driven by chief executive Marjorie Scardino, who is stepping down at the end of the year. She will be replaced by John Fallon, head of the international education division.

The deal is Pearson's largest in education since it bought Harcourt Assessment and Harcourt Education International from Reed Elsevier for a total of $950 million in 2007.

Shares in Pearson closed 0.7 percent higher at 12.38 British pounds, valuing the group at about 10.1 billion pounds ($16.26 billion).

(Reporting by Paul Sandle in London and Karen Rebelo in Bangalore; Editing by Supriya Kurane and David Goodman)

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Pearson buys U.S. online education company for $650 million

LOUISVILLE, KY--(Marketwire - Oct 16, 2012) - Online students are playing a significant role in higher education, with 13.5 percent of college students enrolled in a fully online degree program. But according to a new report, Best Practices in Online Faculty Development, teaching online poses different challenges than face-to-face instruction.

"Most faculty members are most comfortable with the interaction that comes from traditional teaching," said Dr. David Clinefelter, Chief Academic Officer of Learning House and author of the report. "But the skills for teaching online can be developed if institutions ensure they have practices and a culture in place to support and develop online faculty."

When developing a plan for online faculty success, institutions should consider:

"Regardless of delivery method, the faculty member is still the key ingredient for an effective class and meaningful student experience," said Dr. Clinefelter. "Giving online faculty members the tools to succeed is really giving students the tools they need to make the most of their educational experience."

To download the full version of this report, please visit http://www.learninghouse.com/facultydevelopment.

The Learning House, Inc. is an online education solutions partner that helps colleges and universities develop and grow high-quality online degree programs and courses. Partnering with more than 100 colleges and universities, Learning House offers a business model that enables institutions to achieve their online education goals efficiently and affordably. Learning House provides a comprehensive solution to success, including curriculum development and management, faculty training and professional development, marketing and lead generation, admissions and enrollment management, student retention, 24/7 technical support, learning management systems, and management and consultation.

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Learning House Publishes Report on Developing Online Faculty at Higher Education Institutions

The northeast suburbs team set for theSport Aerobic World Championships, from left,Grulia Chiro, Ashleigh Weston, Meagan Williams, Kira Trevallow, Emily Sharp, Joey Day and Nicole Pedler. Picture: Luke Hemer Source: adelaidenow

RETIRING from aerobic gymnastics four years ago with a world title, Kira Trevarrow never dreamt of again representing Australia.

But that's precisely what the Modbury Heights woman, 29, is about to do.

Trevarrow is coach and member of a northeast women's team representing her country at the Sport Aerobic World Championships inthe Netherlandsthis week.

"I've been coaching ever since I retired in 2008 and I came back to competing as a bit of fun," Trevarrow says.

"We (the team) ended up with some good results and thought we should keep going.

"The teams we'll be competing against at the championships do this as their fulltime job and we do it as a hobby, so for us even to be in the same league as them is brilliant."

Sports aerobics involves high intensity routines to music demonstrating flexibility, strength and continous movement.

Co-coach Emily Sharp, of Redwood Park, is also stepping out of retirement to compete at the championships which run until October 20.

"I've been itching to come back to the sport and obviously we're aiming high and would love to come back with a medal," Sharp, 28, says.

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Aerobics team bound for world champs

World-renowned RYS yoga certified education center announces upcoming classes in Yin Yoga, Yoga Anatomy and Interdisciplinary Yoga taught by E-RYT instructors. Relaxing yoga retreat for yoga newcomers to experts with Nosara Yoga founder Amba Stapleton also available in December.

Nosara, Costa Rica (PRWEB) October 16, 2012

Nosara Yogas approach to teaching yoga goes beyond traditional poses and yoga styles. Specifically, it integrates the concept of inner inquiry into each training. Don Stapleton, PhD, Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Institute, explains, What makes Nosara Yoga Institute different from other yoga training methodologies is that we believe that each person experiences yoga in his or her own unique way, where each pose and technique helps generate an enlightened inner understanding of oneself. Our curriculum of inward inquiry through yoga enriches and empowers each graduate of our training to find their own individuality, their own voice, their own style, and their own passion for teaching yoga in their yoga practice.

A 50-hour Yin Yoga Training, led by Biff Mithoefer (http://www.nosarayoga.com/professional-trainings/yin-yoga-teacher-training), will take place on the lush Nosara Yoga Institute campus from October 29 through November 3, 2012. This 5-day training teaches the Yin approach to yoga, where yoga postures are held for a long time to stretch the deep connective tissue in the joints and deepen inner awareness. Ways to lead a Yin class and incorporate Yin postures and philosophy into any practice will also be explored.

For those who wish to get started teaching yoga, Nosara Yogas 200-hour Interdisciplinary Yoga Teacher Training (http://www.nosarayoga.com/trainings/200-hr-interdisciplinary-yoga-teacher-training) is the course to take. Central to the training, which will be held November 4 through December 1, 2012, is an inquiry into what makes a successful teacher, a philosophy that is a hallmark all of Nosara Yogas teacher trainings. This month-long course will be taught by Nosara Yoga Institutes Co-Directors Don and Amba Stapleton and, like all other trainings offered at Nosara Yoga, meets Yoga Alliance certification standards.

Experiential Anatomy for the Multidimensional Being (http://www.nosarayoga.com/professional-trainings/100-hr-experiential-yoga-anatomy-training), a 2-week training that will take place December 2 through December 15, 2012 under the leadership of Sarah Tacy Tangredi, is a 100-hour advanced training in yoga anatomy for certified yoga teachers. This program is designed to help students acquire a deeper knowledge of the body by studying both the objective, scientific aspects of anatomy, plus explore the subjective, experiential elements of the mind, emotions and the environment. The study of both elements creates an extraordinary learning experience that can be applied to any yoga instruction.

To relax and get out of the cold winter during the busy December holidays, Nosara Yogas 7-day Yoga with Amba Retreat (http://www.nosarayoga.com/retreats/yoga-retreat-with-amba-getting-a-jump-start-on-your-easy-at-home-practice) is the perfect get-away. Ideal for anyone who knows either nothing or a lot about yoga or anywhere in-between, this December 16 through December 22, 2012 all-inclusive retreat offers yoga instruction and meditation interspersed with great food, beach time and anything else to help put some fun and relaxation back in ones life. An added benefit of this restorative retreat is learning a short 40-minute simple routine that one can practice at home each day. Stretches, postures, breathing routine and meditation are tailored for each participant, so that they can be easily remembered and done quickly, providing profound results that create deep awakenings in consciousness. Leading this retreat will be Amba Stapleton, Nosara Yoga Institute Co-Director who mixes a sunny disposition with a contagious passion for yoga and fun.

We are proud to offer these Yoga Alliance-recognized certification programs for yoga teachers and yoga lovers alike who wish to expand their yoga practice, notes Ms. Stapleton. Taking a training or relaxing at our year-end yoga retreat during the fourth quarter of 2012 can also bring about a greater sense of renewal and rejuvenation in time to make next year, 2013, a truly successful year both personally and professionally for each participant.

Additional information and registration for upcoming 2012-2013 programs can be found on the Nosara Yoga Institute website at http://www.NosaraYoga.com.

About Nosara Yoga Institute (http://www.NosaraYoga.com)

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Yoga Teacher Training Schedule Featuring 50-, 100-, 200-Hour Yoga Alliance-Recognized Certification Courses, and a ...

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ATP Health and Fitness fundraiser 2012 Zumba time - Video

Tags: better business, hybrid fitness training, shaun davison

LOCAL man Shaun Davison followed his passion for health and fitness in November last year, establishing Hybrid Fitness Training, a no-fuss, no-gimmick training facility which can deliver astonishing results.

Hailing from a sporting background which includes working as a personal development coach for Country Rugby League, Mr Davison has built on his 10 years' experience in the fitness industry to develop a unique business dedicated to helping Clarence Valley residents improve and maintain their fitness and wellbeing.

"Hybrid Fitness Training is based on the important values of being healthy and having a good quality of life," Mr Davison said.

"It is not about going to the gym just to look good.

"At Hybrid we believe we are in the fitness industry for the right reasons. The staff are passionate about what we do, our reward is our members' achievements and we thrive on seeing people achieve what they initially never thought was even possible."

Mr Davison said Hybrid Fitness Training only implement training programs that will have a positive effect on people's health and fitness.

He added a person's fitness could determine their quality of life.

Mr Davison, along with his fellow directors at Hybrid Fitness Training, said when establishing the business, they searched for a name for their facility that they felt represented their own personal fitness philosophies and supported what they wanted to offer in a fitness centre for the Grafton community.

A facility that had a garage gym feeling but could achieve the best performance results for a mixture of people utilising a mixture of the most effective exercise methods and modalities. From this, Hybrid Fitness Training was born.

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No-fuss, no-gimmick gym

By John Reeves | More Articles October 15, 2012 |

Investing great John Bogle, founder of The Vanguard Group and champion of the index fund, believes our nation's retirement system is headed for a serious train wreck. Anyone who looks objectively at the evidence would have to agree with him.

I recently examined several outstanding research studies on the state of retirement savings in America, and here are some of the alarming facts that I discovered:

These are just some of the facts that are included in the studies referenced above. For more detail, I'd encourage you to read the studies in their entirety.

One big takeaway is that many Americans are saving far too little for their retirement. And many of those individuals who are saving are making costly errors that result in poor investing returns. Bogle believes that our society tends to be wired for short-term thinking when it's long-term strategies that are most needed right now in tackling this retirement crisis.

In order to better understand this crisis, we've put together series of articles that take a deeper look at the important challenges facing our retirement system. In "5 Huge Myths About Social Security," Ilan Moscovitz examines our widely misunderstood Social Security system. In another commentary, Sara Murphy explores the question of whether 401(k) plans are a failed experiment. Finally, in a concluding commentary, I put forward some ideas for possibly improving our overall retirement system. We hope you enjoy the series!

To read all of the articles in this series, click on the following links:

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17 Frightening Facts About Retirement Savings in America

Check is a personal health device helping professional and recreational athletes to increase their player readiness. The service helps athletes to improve their physical performance by optimizing workouts, reducing injuries and avoiding overtraining syndrome. Players are assessing themselves once a day with the device, which tells them how they should practice that day; pushing hard, doing a normal training or just recovery. It also tells if there's something wrong that needs a professional consultation. Check combines a physical gadget, a mobile app and a cloud service for users to access their data real-time. Check method is unique and based on Finnish scientific sports research and IPR.

London, United Kingdom (PRWEB UK) 16 October 2012

Check includes a novel assessment device, mobile application (Android and iOS) as well as a cloud service for analysis and information management. The solution has been developed together with Finnish sports scientists and is essentially targeted for sports requiring skill, coordination and strength. It also provides significant added value in high-altitude and endurance training.

The beta phase service for professional football clubs was released as part of the international Leaders in Performance conference held in London, Chelsea FC on Oct 10th and 11th.

Ville Simola

+3584400700520 Email Information

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New personal health device product by Check tells if an athlete is training enough, too much, or simply don't know?

Four in ten felt less confident about their performance-related pay compared with 2011.

Over half saw industry bonuses falling in the next three years, the eFinancialCareers survey shows.

Among those expecting an increase, 39% said it would be mainly because of their personal performance.

19% said it was down to the company's performance and 13% said it was due to a change of employer.

"Pay for performance is still ingrained in the culture of financial services in the City," said James Bennett, global managing director at eFinancialCareers.

"If people have performed well they still expect bigger bonuses," he added.

Banks have been under pressure to limit bonuses to end a high-reward, high-risk culture blamed for the financial crisis. A tough UK market environment and public and political pressure were the main reasons given by those expecting bonuses to fall across the industry.

The survey said 18% of respondents did not expect a bonus this year, compared with 11% last year and 7% in 2010.

London's most upbeat finance professionals work for institutional asset management firms, where more than half of respondents expected a rise in their bonus.

The poll of 830 front, middle and back office staff also found workers were more concerned about companies voluntarily cutting pay in the long-term than by regulatory reform of the banking industry.

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Most UK bankers expect a bonus for 2012 - survey

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Oct. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --In its 150th anniversary yearlong celebration, Bacardi celebrates its tremendous success as the world's largest privately-held spirits Company and the incredible drive and perseverance it took to get there following the illegal confiscation of its assets in Cuba on October 15, 1960 52 years ago. While that event was an extraordinary event in the Company's history after nearly 100 years of being in Cuba, it became a critical turning point to propel the family-owned Company and its namesake BACARDI rum brand to take on a greater international profile. This turned BACARDI into the globally recognized brand it is today. In fact, within 20 years following the loss of the Company's assets in Cuba, BACARDI rum became the number-one premium distilled spirits brand in the United States. Less than a year after that, it was the number-one selling spirit brand in the world.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53412-bacardi-rum-150-anniversary-illegal-cuban-confiscation-international-grow

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121015/MM89922)

"The fact that Bacardi has persevered to become a recognized global brand, as well as a leader in the spirits industry shouldn't be surprising to anyone who understands both the culture and spirit of the Company," said Facundo L. Bacardi, Chairman of Bacardi Limited. "Resilience and perseverance are part of our 150-year DNA, not only as a family, but as a Company. We've survived bankruptcy, rebellions, devastating earthquakes, the U.S. prohibition era, the Cuban Revolution and exile from our homeland, and through it all, we've known that nothing can break the indomitable spirit of the family or the spirit enjoyed the world over. Difficult times may come again, but the lessons of our Company's past are clear to never count us out."

Quick action in face of adversity

The story of Bacardi in Cuba once again demonstrates the Company's ability to adapt, stay relevant and continue to flourish amidst tremendous difficulties. Bacardi proudly proclaims a heritage that is uniquely Cuban, including the honor in 1910 as Cuba's first multinational Company. From humble beginnings in Santiago de Cuba in 1862, Bacardi the family, Company and brand succeeded despite tremendous personal and political upheaval in its first 100 years including war, bankruptcy and prohibition.

In fact, the threats by Fulgencio Batista's government during the 1940s-50s, which included his decision to nationalize Bacardi for one day, propelled Bacardi executives to safeguard the BACARDI rum intellectual property, secret formula and proprietary yeast critical to making BACARDI rum by moving them out of Cuba.

These prescient steps had already been taken when, on October 13, 1960, the new Cuban Revolutionary Government, which had come to power in 1959, approved Law 890 nationalizing all major industries and putting to an end to private property in Cuba. Besides foreign-owned property and entities, nearly 400 Cuban-owned companies, including banks and manufacturing facilities, were also illegally seized.

On October 14, Cuban regime army officers headed to the Bacardi sales office in Havana with a single-page document claiming control of the Cuban Company. But the new Cuban government made a critical error, and the repercussions live on in the world of rum today. The officers went to the wrong building and the wrong city of Havana. The Bacardi headquarters and production facility were in Santiago, on the other side of the country. Those responsible for seizing Bacardi had to catch a flight to get to Santiago. This gave Bacardi a 24-hour heads-up to destroy all of the BACARDI signature yeast which gives BACARDI rum its smooth taste and consistency no matter where in the world you enjoy it thereby preventing anyone else from ever making BACARDI rum in Cuba.

The following day, on October 15, officials of the revolutionary government showed up at the Bacardi headquarters in Santiago and forced Bacardi executives to sign an "Expropriation Document." With the stroke of a pen, the Company's Cuban assets were confiscated and the Bacardi family lost what had taken 98-years to build.

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In Its 150th Year, Bacardi Celebrates Success, Resilience And Growth Since Illegal Confiscation Of Cuban Assets 52 ...