eLearning Regions and Cities 2004

"Regions are becoming focal points for knowledge creation and learning in the new age of global, knowledge-intensive capitalism, as they in effect become learning regions. The learning regions function as collectors and repositories of knowledge and ideas, and provide the underlying environment or infrastructure which facilitates the flow of knowledge, ideas and learning"

 Richard Florida

E-learning: the e-transformation of individual and organisational learning, so as to reflect the needs of a knowledge economy and society and the potential of knowledge, information and learning technologies.

 EIfEL

The rise of a knowledge economy and society, made possible by the ubiquitous presence of information technologies, presents a major challenge to our traditional approach to education & training: how can we assure the quality of (e)learning services while simultaneously encouraging the innovation required to create a "knowledge Europe"?

Quality learning in a knowledge economy

The contribution that e-learning can make to the development of learning regions and cities has scarcely begun to be explored. As regional and local authorities play an increasingly important role in policies for education and life long learning, the evolution of knowledge, information and learning technologies offers new opportunities that demand a new vision, new skills and new models that will represent a radical departure from traditional ones.

Objectives and Outcomes

The objective of the conference is to bring together practitioners from the public and private sectors, researchers, and policy makers, in order to address the key issues of quality and (e)learning, and attempt to draw a roadmap for future developments, while setting the scene firmly in the context of learning regions:

• E-learning: how to maximise the use of knowledge, information and learning technologies to develop a knowledge Europe? How can we develop e-learning regions and cities? Is there a place for local and regional initiatives and players in a global market? What are the benefits for citizens in this new context?

• Quality: what quality models in a knowledge economy and society? What responsibilities for regions, cities and public authorities in assuring quality to learning individuals, organisations and communities? How to reconcile innovation and quality assurance?

This conference will provide the opportunity for benchmarking initiatives and policies (within and beyond Europe), exchanging with experts and practitioners on current and future development, networking with other professionals to establish plans for future projects. It will also mark the first step of a larger project involving many different European regions in a plan for Supporting Excellent in E-Learning (SEEL).