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Monday, July 31, 2006

eLearning taking off in Europe: survey results provide a fresh perspective

The demand for eLearning in Europe is growing, according to an online survey, 'What is the extent of eLearning in Europe' carried out by Cedefop and Alphametrics a UK based consultancy. Of the 539 initial responses to the survey, 83% 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%), private training companies/organisations (19%) and public VET organisations (15%).
Last year training suppliers experienced strong growth in revenues from the sale of eLearning materials and even stronger growth is anticipated for 2000/1. As a result eLearning will account for an increasing proportion of materials revenue - jumping from 23% in 1999 to almost 40% in 2001. Expenditure by training users/purchasers on operating costs associated with eLearning will also grow fast, averaging around 25% per annum between 1999 and 2001.

In relation to the delivery and receipt of eTraining/eLearning

Training using eLearning methods is most common for ICT, where 43% of users' needs were met by this form of training.
On average a third of purchasers training needs were met by eLearning in the following subject areas: Management, New Product/Service Training.
eLearning tends to be much more widely used/purchased in smaller (those with fewer than 50 employees) organisations - 41%-, than in larger ones (22% in those with 50-499 employees; 28% in those with 500+ employees).

Responses are analysed by organisation type, size, location, whether they are eLearning suppliers or customers or both, the subjects eLearning courses are provided in, as well as revenue from, and expenditure on, eLearning activities.
The survey defines eLearning 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 eLearning within 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 (ETV), www.trainingvillage.gr, website since the 1 February 2001. The survey will be supplemented by other data being collected on eLearning 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, jointly organised by Cedefop. The conference also hosted a series of presentations by transnational partnerships which have developed eLearning content with the support of European Union programmes.

Ms 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 eLearning 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 it eLearning 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 eLearning, which is seen as key to the knowledge-based society.

The final survey report was expected to be ready in May and will be available in English, French, German and Spanish.


Further information from: Colin McCullough (cmc@cedefop.eu.int) or Steve Bainbridge (sb@cedefop.eu.int), Tel. (30-31) 490111

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