Commission adopts e-learning action plan
Commission adopts e-learning action planKeywords: Europe, Education, Training, Information technology
The European Commission has adopted the e-learning action plan, which aims to promote co-operation between the EU, member states and the worlds of education and training, to combine lifelong education, modernization of education and training systems and use of new information and communication technologies to maximum benefit. The e-learning action plan complements e-Europe 2002 and is a key element in the European employment strategy and the strategy on the new European labour market. Viviane Reding, European Commissioner responsible for education and training, commented: "Europeans must be put into a position very soon of being able to take advantage of the opportunities offered by information and communication technologies, if we are to combat failure at school and exclusion, enable everyone to continue learning irrespective of age,and reduce the current skills shortage in the European economy." Anna Diamantopoulou, European Commissioner responsible for employment and social affairs, said: "With the present IT skills shortage of almost 1.4 million,projected to rise to more than 1.7 million by 2003, education and training must be intensified rapidly. The lead time for training IT technicians is six months to one year. Adequate training and infrastructure are also vital to ensure an inclusive e-Europe."
The e-learning initiative, adopted by the Commission last year, identifies four priorities:
- 1.
improvement of infrastructure and equipment, including Internet access in all classrooms by the end of 2002 and a ratio of five to 15 pupils per multimedia computer by 2004;
- 2.
a training drive at all levels, to bring about digital literacy for all school leavers by the end of 2003, to promote the use by teachers of digital technology in education, to create online learning platforms by the end of 2002,to adapt school curricula and to provide access for all workers to digital literacy;
- 3.
development of quality content and services; and
- 4.
networking of schools in Europe.
The e-learning action plan contains concrete proposals for implementing these objectives:
Creation of an information base on the use of information and communication technologies for teaching purposes in the member states.
Creation of a European exchange and research platform to exploit to the maximum the potential of new technology in education and training.
Encouragement of infrastructure development, for example, by installing digital networks in universities, in less-favoured regions of Europe.
Inclusion of digital literacy in the list of basic skills to be gained through lifelong learning. The Commission will investigate the feasibility of a European diploma for IT skills.
Maximizing teachers' potential through a personal effort on training by all teachers, identification and dissemination of best practice in the EU and investment in research on the skills needed by tomorrow's teachers.
Support for the development of quality educational content by means of an inventory of quality certification systems drawn up in co-operation with member states.
Encouragement of new educational and training services in language learning,the arts, culture, citizenship, science and technology.
The Commission will set up an e-learning Internet site by the end of 2001. It will help to boost co-operation between the various parties active in the field.
Further information about e-Europe is available from Multimedia for Education, Training and Culture, Directorate-General for Education and Culture,European Commission, 200 rue de la Loi, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium (e-mail: eleaming@cec.eu.int).
