About Us

electronic Business School of Ireland is an Irish online business school providing practical, flexible and professionally focused e-learning for people and organisations working in international trade, banking, trade finance, AI, digital marketing and SME development.

Our origins date back to November 1999, when Global Trade Interactive Learning Ltd began operations to develop online learning solutions for international trade and business education.

After more than two years of development, the electronic Business School of Ireland was formally launched on 22 January 2002 in cooperation with the Institute of International Trade of Ireland, with programmes accredited by the Institute of Export UK.

This gives eBSI a rare combination of long-term e-learning experience and specialist subject expertise. We were developing online trade and business training before online learning became mainstream, and we have continued to evolve our academy structure as the needs of professionals, banks, SMEs and international organisations have changed.

Today, electronic Business School of Ireland operates as the parent brand for a growing group of specialist online academies, each focused on a defined area of business competence.

One Business School, Six Specialist Academies

The original electronic Business School of Ireland has evolved into a specialist academy model designed to serve the changing needs of professionals, entrepreneurs, SMEs, banks, corporates and international organisations.

  • eBSI Export Academy - International trade, export development, import/export operations, market entry, trade documentation, Incoterms and practical export skills.
  • eBSI Banking Academy - Banking, compliance, financial services, risk, operations and professional banking skills.
  • Trade Finance Academy - Letters of credit, documentary collections, guarantees, standby letters of credit, UCP 600, ISP98, URDG and international trade finance practice.
  • AI Skills Academy - Practical AI skills for professionals, entrepreneurs, trainers, consultants and SMEs.
  • Digital Marketing Academy - Digital marketing, online business development, lead generation, content strategy and practical marketing skills.
  • SME Academy - Business development, entrepreneurship, productivity, finance, strategy and practical skills for small and medium sized enterprises.

This academy structure allows us to keep each learning pathway focused, relevant and practical, while still drawing on the experience, technology and educational standards of the wider electronic Business School of Ireland.

Our Story

The story of eBSI began in November 1999 with the establishment of Global Trade Interactive Learning Ltd. The aim was ambitious for the time: to use digital learning technologies to make high-quality international trade and business education available beyond the limits of traditional classroom training.

Following an intensive development period, the electronic Business School of Ireland was formally launched on 22 January 2002 with the Institute of International Trade of Ireland, with programmes accredited by the Institute of Export UK.

Our roots are strongly connected to international trade education in Ireland. The school was established by practitioners who had previously been involved in traditional international trade training with Ireland’s leading private sector export development bodies, including the Irish Exporters Association and its academic and research arm, the Institute of International Trade of Ireland.

From the beginning, eBSI recognised the need for practical training, networking and support for exporters, importers, bankers and trade support professionals. This led to the creation of competence-based online programmes that combined practitioner insight, applied business knowledge and modern e-learning delivery.

In 2007, we launched our first specialist academy, eBSI Export Academy, to support exporters, importers, trade practitioners and trade development organisations with practical online training in international trade and export development.

In 2021, we launched eBSI Banking Academy with the assistance of Bankers Academy of the USA, expanding our reach into banking, compliance and financial services training.

In 2025, we launched Trade Finance Academy as a dedicated home for our specialist trade finance training. This reflects the depth of our work in documentary credits, guarantees, standby letters of credit, trade finance operations and international rules for trade finance practice.

In 2026, we are expanding further with the launch of AI Skills Academy, Digital Marketing Academy and SME Academy. These academies reflect the new skills required by professionals and businesses in a rapidly changing digital economy.

Why eBSI?

We believe premium online learning is not about glossy presentation alone. It is about relevance, credibility, structure, support and outcomes.

Our programmes are designed for busy professionals who need to learn efficiently and apply what they learn quickly. We focus on practical competence, not academic theory for its own sake. Learners should leave our courses with knowledge they can use in their work, their business or their professional development.

Organisations choose eBSI because we combine specialist subject matter expertise with flexible online delivery. We understand the needs of individual learners, but we also understand the needs of training managers, banks, corporates, SMEs, development agencies and professional bodies that require scalable, cost-effective learning solutions.

  • Practical learning - Courses are designed around real business needs and workplace application.
  • Specialist expertise - Our academies focus on defined professional areas rather than generic training.
  • Flexible access - Learners can study online, at their own pace and from anywhere in the world.
  • Global reach - eBSI has supported thousands of learners in more than 70 countries.
  • Organisational solutions - We support group catalogue access, certificate programme enrolments, custom programmes and corporate learning portals.
  • Irish credibility - We are an Irish online business school with a long track record in international trade, e-learning and professional development.

Recognition and Awards

Our work in online learning and professional education has been recognised both internationally and in Ireland.

Capital Finance International Award announcement for eBSI

In 2019, Capital Finance International Magazine recognised eBSI as the Global Winner for Best Online Trade Finance Accredited Courses for our suite of trade finance e-learning programmes. You can explore our current Trade Finance Academy courses here.

In 2022, Integrated Learning Solutions Ltd, the parent company of the electronic Business School of Ireland received an All-Ireland Business All-Star Accreditation as Best E-Learning Solutions Provider.

In 2025, Integrated Learning Solutions Ltd, the parent company of the electronic Business School of Ireland was again recognised with an All-Ireland Business All-Star Accreditation as Best E-Learning Solutions Provider, reinforcing our continued commitment to high-quality online learning and professional development.

Ireland, International Trade and Professional Skills

Ireland is one of the world’s most internationally connected economies. For Irish businesses, trade is not a side activity. It is central to growth, competitiveness and long-term prosperity.

Irish exports have transformed dramatically over recent decades. In 1951, total Irish exports were approximately IEP 72.4 million, equivalent to about EUR 91.92 million. By 2024, Ireland’s goods exports had reached EUR 223.7 billion, according to the Central Statistics Office.

  • Total Irish exports in 1951 were IEP 72.4 million, equivalent to approximately EUR 91.92 million.
  • Total Irish goods exports in 2007 were approximately EUR 89.2 billion.
  • Total Irish goods exports in 2017 were approximately EUR 122 billion.
  • Total Irish goods exports in 2019 were approximately EUR 152 billion.
  • Total Irish goods exports in 2024 reached EUR 223.7 billion, according to the Central Statistics Office.

In 2024, Ireland exported EUR 223.7 billion in goods and imported EUR 134.7 billion in goods. Chemicals and related products accounted for more than EUR 145 billion of exports, representing almost two-thirds of total goods exports.

Ireland’s population was estimated at approximately 5.46 million in April 2025. This means Ireland exported roughly EUR 41,000 in goods per person in 2024, underlining the exceptional international orientation of the Irish economy.

Headline GDP per capita figures for Ireland are among the highest in the world, with World Bank data showing GDP per capita of approximately USD 112,895 in 2024. However, because Irish GDP is significantly affected by multinational activity, the Central Statistics Office also uses Modified Gross National Income, known as GNI*, as a more realistic indicator of underlying Irish economic performance.

In 2024, Ireland’s Modified GNI was approximately EUR 321 billion. This represents roughly EUR 58,800 per person when compared with the April 2025 population estimate.

These figures help explain why professional skills in international trade, banking, trade finance, AI, digital business and SME development matter so much. A highly open economy needs people who understand markets, risk, finance, documentation, compliance, technology and business growth.

Our Heritage in International Trade Education

The foundations of eBSI are closely linked to Ireland’s long tradition of professional international trade education.

The Irish Exporters Association and the Institute of International Trade of Ireland played an important role in fostering professional standards in export development and international trade practice. Many prominent international trade leaders benefited from the professional examinations of the Irish Exporters Association. Mr. Peter Sutherland, former Director General of GATT, was among those who graduated through these professional examinations.

The Institute of International Trade of Ireland was responsible for research into trade-related issues and the development of accredited and certified international trade education.

electronic Business School of Ireland built on this heritage by bringing professional trade education into the online learning environment. What began with international trade and export training has since expanded into banking, trade finance, AI skills, digital marketing and SME development.

Global Online Learning Since 1999

Our online learning journey began in 1999, and the electronic Business School of Ireland formally launched in January 2002. Since then, eBSI has delivered online training to individual professionals, corporates, banks, public sector bodies and international development organisations.

Our learners have come from more than 70 countries, reflecting the global relevance of practical online business education. Whether a learner is an exporter, banker, entrepreneur, consultant, trainer, SME owner or corporate professional, our goal is the same: to provide clear, practical and professionally relevant online learning.

Through our academies, we provide training in areas that are essential to business performance in a global digital economy: trade, finance, banking, AI, marketing and SME growth.

Certification and Professional Development

eBSI has specialised for many years in the delivery of certified international trade and trade finance programmes, including programmes that have led to certification from the Institute of Export UK.

Learners looking for structured professional pathways can explore our certificate and diploma programmes, including our International Trade Specialist Accreditation and specialist trade finance courses.

Our courses are designed to support continuing professional development, workplace performance and career progression. Learners can enrol online and gain access to structured learning materials, practical exercises and professional development pathways.

Participants in selected full certification programmes may also gain access to our online campus, where discussion forums, learner support and a professional learning community are available.

Technology and Learning Experience

High-quality online learning depends on both strong content and reliable delivery. Thanks to our strategic relationship with LearnUpon, one of Ireland’s leading e-learning platform providers, we have been able to optimise our content, learner experience and delivery processes using a robust, award-winning learning management system.

You can learn more about LearnUpon's technology and reputation here on our website.

Solutions for Organisations

electronic Business School of Ireland provides practical online learning solutions for organisations that need cost-effective, scalable and professionally focused training.

We work with companies, banks, SMEs, trade support organisations, public sector bodies and training managers who need flexible learning solutions without the cost and complexity of traditional classroom delivery.

  • Catalogue access for groups - Organisations can enrol staff into selected catalogues or wider course libraries, allowing learners to access relevant training online and progress at their own pace.
  • Group enrolments on certificate programmes - Organisations can enrol teams into selected certificate programmes or structured learning pathways aligned with specific roles, departments or professional development needs.
  • Customised learning pathways - We can help organisations combine selected courses into tailored curricula for particular business functions, job roles or internal capability-building projects.
  • Corporate online learning portals - We can support organisations in establishing an internal online learning portal or corporate university using licensed eBSI content, existing internal materials and scheduled webinars where required.
  • Custom course creation - We can work with L&D managers, training teams and subject matter experts to create custom online learning content for internal or external audiences.

Organisations interested in training solutions can also book a consultation to discuss the most suitable approach.

Who We Serve

Our learners and clients include individuals and organisations that need practical skills for real business environments.

Our Mission

Our mission is to help people and organisations build the practical business skills needed to compete, grow and adapt in a changing global economy.

We do this by combining specialist expertise, online learning technology and practical course design into accessible programmes that support professional development and organisational performance.

From our origins in online trade education in 1999, through the formal launch of the electronic Business School of Ireland in 2002, to our expanding academy structure today, eBSI remains committed to one core principle: online learning should be practical, credible and useful.

Contact Us

To discuss individual enrolment, organisational training, academy partnerships or custom e-learning solutions, please contact Thomas Smith at ts@ebsi.ie, book a consultation or use the website chat options most convenient to you.