Training Foundation joins the e-Learning Industry Core Group

The e-Learning Industry Group (eLIG) assists the European Commission and Member State Governments in furthering the objectives of the Commission's eLearning Action Plan.

Speaking at the Prometeus Conference in Paris on 30th September, Dr. Richard Straub, Director of e- Learning Solutions for IBM and Chairman of eLIG, summarised recent changes. Dr Straub revealed that the Core Group had been enlarged. The full list of members now consists of: The Training Foundation, 3Com, Accenture, SanomaWSOY, Sun Microsystems, Apple, Online Courseware Factory, BT, Vivendi Universal Publishing, Cisco, Alcatel, Digitalbrain, Klett Languages, IBM, Intel, Wolters Kluwer, Line Communications, Global Knowledge, NIIT, DLGI and Nokia.

The Training Foundation is perhaps best known for the innovative Certified e-Learning Professional (CeLP) programme, developed in close partnership with the UK Institute of IT Training and launched in January of 2002. Speaking shortly after an eLIG Core Group meeting in Brussels on September 18th, Adrian Snook, Director of Corporate Development for The Training Foundation commented: "This move confirms our central position and growing influence on the development of the European e-Learning industry."

"The e-Learning Industry Group recognises the critical importance of providing continuous professional development for teachers and trainers and is committed to enhancing their status by helping them develop and understand the principles for effective e-Learning", Snook explained. "The Training Foundation shares this mission and seeks to ensure that educators in all areas of life are recognised and rewarded as crucial to the development of the information society and knowledge economy."

The Industry Group provides advice to the European Commission and national governments in the development of relevant professional and personal skills, essential information technology and telecommunications infrastructure, open standards to facilitate the exchange of e-learning content, and development of a sustainable market for e-learning content.

Viviane Reding, Commissioner with responsibility for Education and Culture, has welcomed the eLIG initiative, stating: "I expect that the eLearning Industry Group will play a significant role in establishing the right conditions for the accelerated integration of e-learning in schools, universities and in the work place. Public-private partnerships can potentially play a key role in the development and implementation of successful e-learning solutions".

To complement the Project activities undertaken by the Industry Core Group, eLIG has also established a Consultation Group consisting of Auralog, Bertelsmann Foundation, CEPIS, CLT - MSI Växjö University, Compact, CompTIA, EDS, Elisa Communications, European Education Partnership, FD Learning, Fraunhofer- Institute Industrial Engineering, IT Center Stockholm, Lagardère, Manpower, Porto Editora, RM, SmartForce and Texas Instruments.

October 11th, 2002