E-learning is taking off in Europe
E-learning is taking off in Europe
The demand for e-learning in Europe is growing, according to an online survey, "What is the extent of e-learning in Europe?", carried out by Cedefop and Alphametrics, a UK-based consultancy. Of the 539 initial responses to the survey, 83 per cent were from the EU, with the UK, France, Denmark and Greece being well represented. Responses came from universities and colleges of further/higher education (21 per cent), private training companies/organisations(19 per cent) and public vocational education and training organisations (15 per cent).
In 1999/2000, training suppliers experienced strong growth in revenues from the sale of e-learning materials and even stronger growth is anticipated for 2000/2001. As a result, e-learning will account for an increasing proportion of materials revenue – jumping from 23 per cent in 1999 to almost 40 per cent in 2001. Expenditure by training users/purchasers on operating costs associated with e-learning will also grow fast, averaging around 25 per cent per annum between 1999 and 2001.
In relation to the delivery and receipt of e-training/e-learning:
Training using e-learning methods is most common for information communications technology (ICT), where 43 per cent of users' needs were met by this form of training.
On average, one-third of purchasers' training needs were met by e-learning in the following subject areas: management, new product/service training.
E-learning tends to be much more widely used/purchased in smaller (those with fewer than 50 employees) organisations (41 per cent) than in larger ones(22 per cent in those with between 50 and 499 employees; 28 per cent in those with 500 plus employees).
Responses are analysed by organisation type, size, location; whether they are e-learning suppliers or customers or both; the subjects e-learning courses are provided in; as well as revenue from and expenditure on e-learning activities.
The survey defines e-learning as all learning using information and communication technologies and, according to Johan van Rens, Director of Cedefop, it "represents the first major attempt to assess the current extent of e-learning with vocational education and training in Europe". He stressed that these figures were preliminary and based on responses received over the Internet to the survey posted on the Electronic Training Village (www.trainingvillage.gr) Web site since 1 February 2001. The survey will be supplemented by other data being collected on e-learning over the next couple of months.
The initial survey results were announced at the Learning Online 2001 Europe conference held in London on 12 to 14 February, which was jointly organised by Cedefop. The conference also hosted a series of presentations by transnational partnerships which have developed e-learning content with the support of European Union programmes.
Maruja Gutierrez-Diaz, Head of the Multimedia Unit of the European Commission's Directorate General for Education and Culture, welcomed the survey results. She said: "There is a need for information on e-learning in Europe to inform policy decisions and stimulate debate. The survey is interesting and timely as the Commission is preparing an action plan as part of its e-learning initiative to encourage the effective use of e-learning in the context of lifelong learning." The Commission's Information Society and Technology programme is responding to the need for high-level research into the development of e-learning, which is seen as key to the knowledge-based society.
The final survey report will be available in English, French, German and Spanish.
Further information from: Colin McCullough, Tel: (30 31) 490 139, E-mail: cmc@cedefop.eu.int, Steve Bainbridge, Tel:(30 31) 490 029; E-mail: sb@cedefop.eu.int
