E-commerce gap

Universities in Britain are risking the country's future at the heart of global e-commerce through a slow uptake of internet marketing and management courses.

Only two out of the 30 top-ranking UK universities contacted in a recruitment survey by online retailer, Countdown-Arcade, offered an e-commerce option as part of their undergraduate business degree schemes. At many business schools, e-commerce was seen as a realm of IT rather than management or marketing. Of those surveyed, only Salford Univers-ity and the University of Brighton offered specialist e-commerce modules. Others had modules planned.

Charles Taylor, chief executive officer at CountdownArcade, said: "At present the lack of content could limit the prospects of UK university students as well as the UK e-commerce industry as a whole."

Details: CountdownArcade at 020 7731 7831.