Open Distance Learning – Networking in Europe and Beyond Dr. Erwin B. Wagner, EDEN President ABED VII International Congress On Distance Education, Sao Paulo 16–

The topics : 1. ODL in Context and History of European Higher Education 2. Challenges and Trends in University Development 3. Networking: Professional Development, Innovation, Policymaking 4. EDEN: The European Distance Education Network 5. Transcontinental and Global Perspectives for Co-operation

1. ODL in Context and History of European Higher Education

What is Europe?

1. ODL in Context and History of European Higher Education What´s Europe? F Europe: many countries, different cultures, inter- related history,..- a „European Culture“ in HE? F diversity in geography, population, social relations F division between East and West of Europe F difference - competition - integration

1. ODL in Context and History of European Higher Education Milestones & Variations of Development F early initiatives in different countries (Sweden, Germany,..) – not focussed on higher education F „founding aera“ in the 60ies and 70ies: F „open universities“: United Kingdom, Netherlands, Portugal (later: Cataluna) F „distance teaching universities“: Spain, Germany F „dual mode-institutions“: France, Scandinavia, Italy, Russia / eastern part of Europe

1. ODL in Context and History of European Higher Education European Policy F since beginning of 90ies: EU policy and funding for development and application of ODL F strong technological drive F educational, economic, cultural and social goals F funding frameworks and programmes: research & development / application F trans-european networks and consortia F current strategy: e-Europe / e-learning

1. ODL in Context and History of European Higher Education Observations: Present Situation F vivid and dynamic development F increasing competition between countries and academic organisations F growing differences between academic institutions F ambitious political strategies F europe in a global environment F time of re-orientation, new visions, in search of inventing the future

2. Challenges and Trends in University Development

2. Challenges and Trends in University Development Challenges for ODL & Traditional Higher Education ODL & trad.HE Globalisation technology Culture of learning Economy & bussiness Knowledge Society / Communities

2.Challenges and Trends in University Development Current Trends Virtual Universities Key-concepts change E-Bussiness Coopetition modernisation of teaching and learning co-operation, networking, alliances and competition education, training, e-learning as mega-bussiness of the future? „online“ or „e“ instead of „distance“

2. Challenges and Trends in University Development Observations: What makes the difference? F Technological drive dominates tradition and culture F Universities are really challenged to find new concepts as social and academic systems (organisation, management, culture) F In spite of an „inventive aera“ there is a lack of clear visions, scenarios and good landmarks beyond technological innovation

3. Networking: Professional Development, Innovation, Policymaking

3. Networking: Professional Development, Innovation, Policymaking ODL development – a Development of Networks Development Open and Distance Learning / Teaching Development Of Professional/ Institutional Networks

3. Networking: Professional Development, Innovation, Policymaking About different types of Networks in Europe ODL + DTU Interest Groups (EADTU,..) Topics & Client´s Interest Groups (EUCEN, EFECOT, EFODL,..) Pioneers in technology (EUROPace, Prometheus,..) „University Clubs“ (Coimbra Group,..) Professional´s Networks (EDEN,..)

3. Networking: Professional Development, Innovation, Policymaking Observations: about Networking F Networking is hard bussiness (in terms of resources, common interests, claims,..) F Networks create new kind of policymaking (democratic, fragile, self-sustainable,..) F Networks make a difference – Networks are different

4. EDEN: The European Distance Education Network

4. EDEN: The European Distance Education Network – Aims and principles F EDEN: a European educational association, established in 1991 F fostering developments of ODL through provision of platform for co-operation F open for all levels of education and training F open for institutions, individuals and networks F legally based in the UK F Secretariat in Budapest

4. EDEN: The European Distance Education Network – Membership  institutions - individuals - networks F 107 institutional members F 450 members in the Network of Academics and Professionals (individual section) from 36 countries F 30 European or national networks present F 220+ institutions represented

4. EDEN: The European Distance Education Network – The Network of Academics and Professionals - NAP  the “individuals’ section” in EDEN – individual members (fee paying) – up to four delegated expert by each institution F certain functional autonomy - own Steering Committee F Special Interest Groups

4. EDEN: The European Distance Education Network – Traditional partnerships and new target groups F Traditional universities, F School level education - the Open Classroom F Researchers of open and distance learning F Students - free membership from 1999 F The corporate sector

4. EDEN: The European Distance Education Network – Developing European Policy F promotion of networking and co-operation in distance education in Europe F policy studies and feasibility studies F East-West co-operation F “European ODL Liaison Committee”: co- operation forum of major European distance education networks

4. EDEN: The European Distance Education Network – Aims of the Liaison Committee  forum for the exchange of views, express common opinions and goals of the European ODL organisations F facilitate the engineering of Europe-wide projects F give recommendations to the European Commission and Member States F assist to define and implement programmes for the integration of ICT in learning.

4. EDEN: The European Distance Education Network – Founding members of the Liaison Committee: F Association of European Correspondence Schools (AECS/EADL) F Coimbra Group F European Association of Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU) F EuroPACE 2000 F European Federation for Open and Distance Learning (E.F.ODL) F European Universities Continuing Education Network (EUCEN) F European Distance Education Network (EDEN) + NAP F International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) F European Federation for the Education of Children of Occupational Travellers (EFECOT) F Observer: CRE

4. EDEN: The European Distance Education Network – Supporting East-West co-operation F : policy and feasibility studies for EU programmes (Phare, TEMPUS, etc.) F Networking support for the national DE centres in Central-Eastern Europe F Discounted/free membership for CEE applicants F East-West balance in conferences, Executive Committee, etc.

4. EDEN: The European Distance Education Network – Open Classroom Working Group F Distance Education and New Technologies in School Level Education and Training F 1995 the first Open Classroom Conference, Oslo Crete, 1999 Balatonfüred F Working Group within EDEN F link to other EU initiatives (EENet, MENON, EUN) F "Open Learning for the School Age in the Information Society"

4. EDEN: The European Distance Education Network – Promoting professional development - the EDEN Conferences F EDEN Annual Conferences since 1992, the main academic and professional European events in open and distance learning F Open Classroom conferences EDEN initiative for school level F 1999 Moscow - Regional conference for the co-operation with Russia and the Newly Independent States F 2000 Prague - the First Research Workshop of EDEN: “Research and Innovation in Open and Distance Learning”

4. EDEN: The European Distance Education Network – Conferences in preparation F The Fourth Open Classroom Conference Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, November, 2000 F The 2001 Anniversary Annual Conference of EDEN ( ) Stockholm, Royal Institute of Technology

4. EDEN: The European Distance Education Network – Publications and information services F EDEN Newsletter F European Journal of Open and Distance Learning (EURODL) F WEB site F Members’ listserv F Discussion fora and WEB conferencing F Conference Proceedings F Policy and feasibility studies

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5. Transcontinental and Global Perspectives for Co-operation

5. Transcontinental and Global Perspectives for Co-operation Internat. Week for Distance Learning: the Message F Distance Education as well as Open Distance Learning always have taken place within an international community! F means: international, intercultural, transcontinental, global exchange, information, irritation, co-operation, competition,...

5. Transcontinental and Global Perspectives for Co-operation What do we need....? What do we get...? F Learning within a professional community F Mutual challenging and encouragement F Political & strategic liaision, alliance, partnership F Stimulate competition and improvement F Develop ourselves

5. Transcontinental and Global Perspectives for Co-operation Invitation May I invite you to F take part in activities initiated by EDEN (conferences, workshops,..) F spread information (EURODL, newsgroups,..) F join and develop new ideas / concepts F create a special relationship between networks F co-operate in projects, progammes,..

Thanks for your attention!