eLearning Conference, Bruxelles 19-20 May 2005

A strategic conference to debate future policy direction for eLearning will take place on May 19-20, 2005 in Brussels. This conference, organised jointly by DG Information Society and Media, DG Education and Culture, DG Employment and Social Affairs and DG Enterprise, will be considering eLearning in the framework of the Lisbon process and the particular need to reform education and training systems for the knowledge society, promoting digital literacy, developing eSkills, upskilling the workforce and the availability of lifelong learning for all. The conference is a continuation of the Commission's effort to bring together practitioners and all relevant policy makers in the human capital field. A key priority is to promote a longer-term vision and strategy, to foster co-operation and better coordination, as well as the mobilisation of Member States, industry and social partners.
 
The objectives of this conference are to bring together the various stakeholders involved in eLearning in Europe, to share experiences, exchange examples of good practice, and generally take stock of the added value of using ICT in education and training. As well as reflecting on the extent to which eLearning is achieving the expectations of policy makers, education, training and social partners, and the contribution that the EU initiatives & programmes have made, it will provide pointers for future policy direction at the European level

With an increased interest in the achievement of the Lisbon goals, the knowledge-based society aspect of ICT policy will rise in importance. Thus, the indirect benefits of eLearning in raising the competences of people and absorptive capacities of organisations will demand greater attention. Improvement of economic performance goes hand in hand with organisational renewal and improvement of skills.

The conference will contribute to an increased awareness and take-up of research results and good practice by different stakeholder communities (notably educational authorities, teachers, providers of learning and vocational training services).

Furthermore, it will promote discussion on the role of research into technology-enhanced learning; through high-level debate on technologies and their efficiency to improve the learning process, and their impact on future needs and opportunities. It will contribute to the preparation of the European Commission's 7th Framework Programme and the discussion interlinking perspectives between practitioners and researchers within the eLearning theme.

The conference participants will be practitioners, teachers, trainers, educational authorities, ministries of education, learners, employers, trade unions, private sector actors and the IT industry

Complete details concerning the conference, including a pre-registration procedure, are available on the conference website: www.elearningconference.org