the European Federation for Open and Distance Learning

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Updated on April 13^th 2000

The E.F.ODL Website

Why an European Federation for ODL?
E.F.ODL electronic letter
E.F.ODL Seminars
Who are the current members?
The signature in Utrecht
Contacts points

Why an Europen Federation for ODL?

The emerging Information Society in Europe brings about enormous changes, as well in the economical as in the work and training environment. As a result Europe is facing an urgent need to develop a multimedia industry that amongst others will support the transition of the education and training systems towards the Information Society. The constantly changing requirements for professional skills generate increasingly varied and lifelong training needs which require totally new solutions. Currently, the actors involved in the development, distribution and use of educational multimedia software and open and distance learning are dispersed, as well at Member State as at the European level.

• In order to be able to provide efficient and cost-effective multimedia training to employees and job-seekers throughout Europe, it is essential to strengthen the co-operation between the respective professional actors involved from the user side as well as from the supplier side, such as : education and training providers, information providers and brokers, electronic publishers, telecom and cable operators, user associations, social partners, etc.
• For this reason the European Federation for Open and Distance Learning has been established with the objective to set up a pan-European network of national networks for ODL that will provide value added services to the benefit of the professional actors involved (e.g. companies, training providers, experts, etc.).
• The European Federation for ODL was formally launched at the transnational conference that took place in Utrecht (NL) on 25 and 26 March 1998 on the theme "Exploring good practice in technology based ODL".

Who are the current members?

Since its formal launching in March 1998, the European Federation has reinforced its national representations with the creation of the Belgium Network for Open and Distance Learning and the creation of the Dutch association "School for the Future", widening the initial basis known as "Consortium voor Innovatie":

• Be-ODL (Belgium Network for Open and Distance Learning) - Belgium
• FFFOD (French Forum for ODL) - France
• Associazione CAMPO - Italy
• NADE (Norwegian Association for Distance Education) - Norway
• School voor de toekomst (School for the Future) - the Netherlands
• Linha Verde - Portugal
• BAOL (British Association for Open Learning) - United Kingdom

The International Training Centre of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), based in Torino became associated member of the European Federation in June 1999.

Negotiations with key organisations from the other EU member states are currently taking place in order to establish the pan-European dimension in the near future.

Contacts

The contact point in France : fffod - General Secretary Mr Bernard Blandin 297, rue de Vaugirard F-75015 PARIS Tel : + 33/1/44.19.23.45 Fax : + 33/1/42.50.25.06 E-mail : bblandin@cesi.fr

(New address) The contact point at European level : E.F.ODL Johan Van Oost, President E.F.ODL Kongostraat 7, B-9000 GENT tel: +32 (9) 265 49 04 fax: +32 (9) 233 21 70 e-mail: jvoost@vdab.be

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