Some companies push for custom programs closer to home to meet time constraints and minimize travel expenses.

WSJ: Universities Tailor Courses for Companies

These make it possible to install custom programs into standard chips, rather than starting from scratch at a huge cost.

FORBES: Silicon missionary

Professor Moingeon believes that the emphasis for the foreseeable future will be on custom programs tailored to specific groups and businesses.

FORBES: The Business School Beat

The Center has since expanded its iPad courses to include custom programs for employees at particular companies and a mobile marketing course that will also integrate handheld iPod touches.

FORBES: Apple Lets Some Students Exchange iPads For iPad 2s

Custom programs from the Haas School of Business at the University of California at Berkeley venture to company operations in foreign countries during several weeklong periods so that participants can develop a sense for conducting international business.

WSJ: Universities Tailor Courses for Companies

In the United States, Northwestern University's Kellogg and Duke University's Duke Corporate Education are also among the leaders in "open" and "custom" programs devised for the specific needs of companies.

CNN: Costs vary with length, location

A.s and diminished corporate interest in open-enrollment programs for executives, can ill afford to lose money from custom executive-education programs, which can bring in tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

WSJ: Executive Education: Professors Are Now Brands

For larger clients there are custom-tailored computer programs and even Herman Miller employees who will substitute for an in-house facilities management team.

FORBES: HERMAN MILLER Furnishing The Future