Review and discussion: E-learning for academia and industry

•We provide review and discussion on popular topics in e-learning.•We present interactive learning, the integrated e-learning delivery and face-to-face learning, as the main method for staff training in academia and industry.•We explain the learning activities and how to use interactive learning for academia and industry.•We demonstrate five successful examples that have adopted interactive learning.•We describe the future directions and the importance of emerging services.

This paper presents a high level review and discussion about e-learning and proposes the use of interactive learning as a recommended method for staff training in industry and academia. Interactive learning is focused on the integrated e-learning and face-to-face learning to ensure that the process of learning can stimulate learners' interests, report their progress and have tutors to provide their feedback and guide learners to the expected targets. Learning activities and varieties have been illustrated with discussion about how industry and academia can use interactive learning. Five successful examples of interactive learning to demonstrate the effectiveness of interactive learning. Positive impacts have been reported in RBS, SMEs using SAP, University of Cambridge, University of Greenwich and Leeds Beckett University to support the positive outcomes for learners and trainers. Future directions have been discussed, particularly the use of emerging services can enhance the learning experience and satisfaction for learners and trainers.