BEIJING, May 16 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- China Distance Education Holdings Limited ("CDEL" or the "Company"), a leading provider of online education in China focusing on professional education, today announced that it has been designated the official provider of self-taught higher education study process monitoring in Zhejiang Province, and has begun to roll out the program with the Zhejiang Provincial Education Examination Authority ("Zhejiang EEA"). In addition, the Company has obtained approval to offer its study process monitoring program in Hainan Province, and has signed a multi- year exclusive contract with the Examinations Bureau of Hainan Province ("Hainan EB"), the designated administrator of self-taught higher education in Hainan Province, to offer the program.
The self-taught higher education program is a self-study program designed to allow learners in China to obtain post-secondary education without having to pass the Uniform Entrance Exams ("Gaokao") or attend a traditional college or university. Degrees are granted by the Ministry of Education ("MOE") to self-taught learners who have passed all exams relating to the diploma or degree courses and who satisfy certain other requirements. Traditionally, 100% of the credits needed to pass self taught programs are earned through final exam scores administered by the MOE. Through CDEL's study process monitoring program, learners can earn up to 30% of their credits from attendance, assignments and quizzes. The program is designed to foster meaningful learning habits and strengthen the overall educational process.
Mr. Zhengdong Zhu, Chairman and CEO of CDEL commented, "I am delighted to announce our new partnerships with the Zhejiang EEA and Hainan EB to provide self-taught higher education study process monitoring programs following the addition of similar programs in Tianjin, Beijing, Jiangsu and Yunnan. Together, Zhejiang and Hainan provide CDEL with access to an additional 700,000 self- taught higher education examination takers, representing a significant market opportunity for CDEL.
"We believe these contracts demonstrate the positive momentum building behind our self-taught higher education program and reflect the high standards of our services. Given the enormous market opportunity in self-taught study process monitoring and the strong reputation we have built in the field, we are confident in the long-term potential of this segment and look forward to further expanding our high quality program across China."
About China Distance Education Holdings Limited
China Distance Education Holdings Limited is a leading provider of online education in China focusing on professional education. The courses offered by the Company through its websites are designed to help professionals and other course participants obtain and maintain the skills, licenses and certifications necessary to pursue careers in China in the areas of accounting, law, healthcare, construction engineering, information technology and other industries. The Company also offers online test preparation courses to self- taught learners pursuing higher education diplomas or degrees and to secondary school and college students preparing for various academic and entrance exams. In addition, the Company offers online foreign language courses. For further information please visit http://ir.cdeledu.com/ .
For more information, please contact: China Distance Education Holdings Limited Lingling Kong, Investor Relations Manager Tel: +86-10-8231-9999 x191 Email: IR@cdeledu.com Investor Relations (HK): Ruby Yim, Managing Director Taylor Rafferty Tel: +852-2167-2008 Email: cdel@taylor-rafferty.com Investor Relations (US): Mahmoud Siddig, Director Taylor Rafferty Tel: +1-212-889-4350 Email: cdel@taylor-rafferty.com
China Distance Education Holdings Limited
CONTACT: Lingling Kong, IR manager of China Distance Education Holdings
Limited, +86-10-8231-9999 x1805, or IR@cdeledu.com; or Investor Relations (US),
Mahmoud Siddig, Director of Taylor Rafferty, +1-212-889-4350, or cdel@taylor-
rafferty.com, or Investor Relations (HK), Ruby Yim, Managing Director of
Taylor Rafferty, +852-2167-2008, or cdel@taylor-rafferty.com, for CDEL
