Manifesto for e-learning published from the European e-learning Summit

The results of discussions by the delegates at the European e-learning Summit, organised by Learning Light and held in Sheffield, have been published in the form of a manifesto for e-learning. The manifesto is intended to help delegates pursue dialogue with their national governments to establish a single, independent and impartial body representing the corporate e-learning sector.

“It’s significant that, unlike the video games industry which is pressing for tax breaks from the Government and the British Film Industry which is asking for public money for further investment in that sector, the corporate e-learning industry is merely asking for UK Government recognition that it exists,” commented David Patterson, operations director of Learning Light, the Sheffield-based organisation which focuses on promoting the use of e-learning and learning technologies.

“Moreover, it is seeking an acknowledgement from the Government that, as a sector, it is making a positive contribution to Britain’s competitiveness in world markets and is generating export income for the UK.”

The key elements of the manifesto are:

1. 
   
   Europe’s economies face challenges including: Demographics:
   – Europe’s population is ageing and its workforce size is shrinking.
   – Competition
   – Environmental damage.


2. 
   
   E-learning is uniquely equipped to meet these challenges, yet its value is largely unrecognised. E-learning and learning technologies can make a significant contribution to addressing these challenges by:
   – Giving Europe’s economies the competitive advantage derived from engaging and effective e-learning which delivers flexible, innovative just-in-time, just-enough learning solutions.
   – Equipping organisations to cope with the increasing speed of change and competition.
   – Providing cost effective, location independent and environmentally beneficial learning.
   – Working at all levels of the employee hierarchy from ’hard to reach learners‘ to ’industry leaders‘, e-learning is able to address topics at all levels and of all complexities.


3. 
   
   To help it do this, the industry needs:
   – The Government to understand the role that corporate e-learning currently plays in enabling choice, freedom and flexibility for learners and businesses; facilitating community and communication; providing value for money and efficiency within a tight fiscal climate, and building on the rapid roll-out of superfast broadband.
   – Acknowledgement from Government that the e-learning industry comprises principally innovative small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). So Government procurement policy must enable these SMEs to be given free and fair access to Government contracts.

“This manifesto represents an accord among key members of the e-learning community, not just in the UK but across Europe,” said Learning Light’s David Patterson. “It will form the basis of a number of discussions which Summit delegates are scheduled to hold with Government officials in the New Year.”

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