First of all we would like to wish you an excellent start of the year 2000! The new millennium heralds an era of total innovation, which will no doubt enhance the growth of ODL in Europe thanks to web learning and open and distance learning centres.

Partnerships and projects within Europe should be brought about, which involves a surplus value for our members. The following projects would be introduced in the year 2000 :

• BE-ODL will set up a project about the branding of ODL centres
• Ardemi project: Mr Blandin (FFFOD) would like to introduce this project about the formal and informal uses of the internet in vocational education and training. The Ardemi project would contribute to the development of Knowledge Management
• Simfor project: Mr Grementieri (CAMPO) intends to start up this project under the Fifth Framework Programme. This project aims to develop and increase competitiveness in SMEs through the development of an innovative and experimental programme in the field of vocational training and research.

The European Liaison Committee, of which E.F.ODL is a member, presents the Lisbon 2000 Conference about ODL networking for quality learning (19 – 21 June 2000). E.F.ODL will introduce its main theme, i.e. ODL for the workforce of today and tomorrow and hopes to meet many members during the international conference.

Active communication between the members will come into effect by using the web via the Learning Square on our website (http://www.ef-odl.org) or via other tools. Our website will soon be finalised, which will also enable E.F.ODL to pass on ODL product information.

 We hope that the January edition of our newsletter will provide you with all the information you need on ODL for the workforce in Europe.

 Johan Van Oost

President E.F.ODL

• The European Commission has launched today an initiative entitled "Europe - an Information Society for All". The initiative focuses on ten priority areas, from education to transport and from healthcare to the disabled. http://wwweuropa.eu.int/comm/dg13/index.htm
• IT Conference League for Innovation, Anaheim, November 15-18,2000 Anaheim, California USA.

• The new co-ordinator for the European Federation for Open and Distance Learning is Mr. Vincent Vandenameele. He will be responsible for the co-ordination and secretariat of the E.F.ODL in Gent (Belgium). You can contact him on the following address and telephone number:

France

1. New Co-operation programme between FFFOD and ADITE

FFFOD and ADITE , two French associations, both active in the field of Flexible Open and Distance Learning and Technology Supported Learning, have decided to launch a Co-operation Programme for Year 2000, in order to be more representative and to provide best services to their members.

ADITE was founded in 1984. Since then, exchanging Best Practices in the field of the Uses of Technology Supported Learning have been its core activity.

Founded in 1995, FFFOD has given its highest priorities to promoting Flexible Open and Distance Learning in France and at European level.

The two associations, together, represent more than 100 companies, training organisations, regional networks and professional associations. They have decided to work together whenever it can be useful, and in particular:

• to promote new training systems,
• to adopt common positions to address issues at stake in their field of activity,
• to speak jointly on behalf of the practitioners they represent,
• to provide a common scheduling of events organised by each association,
• to have common activities,
• to represent jointly the actors in the field of Flexible Open and Distance Learning, in France as well as at international level.

 The two associations have set-up a permanent Co-ordination Committee, comprising 4 members of each association, among which their Presidents, and they have decided to have a common front page on their web site (http://www.fffod.org/ or http://www.adite.asso.fr/).

This Co-operation Programme will be reviewed at the end of the year, and will evolve as needed.

 2. FFFOD holds its "Premières Rencontres" in Poitiers - Palais des Congrès du Futuroscope, March 30-31, 2000.

This two-days Conference organised by FFFOD intends to establish a state-of-the-art of ODL in France. Through 8 workshops, the following issues will be addressed:

- From Face-to-face to ODL: the organisational change challenges

- Best Pedagogical Practices in ODL

- Investment in Technology Supported Learning: efficiency and productivity

- For a new Legislation for Training and Lifelong Learning in France

- Going for ODL: what strategy and how to build it?

- Technical standards, Pedagogical standards: towards the Learning Industry

- Who are the customers of ODL?

Information: http://www.fffod.org/renc.htm and e-mail: mailto:evelyne.keylan@fffod.org

U.K.

The Fourth Conference of the British Association for Open Learning (BAOL) will take place on Tuesday 7 march - Wednesday 8 March at Scarman House, University of Warwick.

George Auckland, head of Digital Media for the BBC will give an industry perspective on where technical innovation might lead customer expectations into the next century. Other key contributors include representatives from BECTa, NIACE, EMTA, Fretwell Downing, CAPE (USA), Maxim Training, Spring Skills and Learning Materials Design.

Flexible Learning 2000 aims to keep at the forefront of developments such as the increasing use of information and communication technologies and the operation of Learning Centre Hubs, enabling delegates to draw upon a pool of information, expertise and best practice within the UK and abroad. The emphasis will be on interactive workshops and larger plenary sessions to bring together the different sectors where appropriate.

 The conference is designed to bring together policy-makers, senior managers and specialists from industry, commerce, education and the professions in the UK and internationally who are actively involved in the increasingly complex and dynamic field of open, flexible and distance forms of learning. It is relevant to all sectors and companies, vocational and government bodies, open learning publishers and providers of materials, Further and Higher Education institutes and Consultancies.

 For further information please contact:

Sarah Bell, Marketing & Information Co-ordinator

British Association for Open Learning

Suite 16, Pixmore House, Pixmore Avenue, Letchworth, Herts, SG6, UK

Tel: 01462 485588

E-mail: sarah@baol.co.uk

The Netherlands

School for the Future, Dutch Network for ODL.

• In July the Dutch network for ODL was established. The network has started the first activities which are mainly seminars. The seminar are focused on best practise and are taking place 6 times a year.

• In May the Dutch network and NADE Norway will have an exchange programme in Bergen and Oslo. In one weak the Dutch delegation will visit best practice in Norway and Dutch professionals will present for the NADE professionals also best practise.

 the world of ODL

 Conferences coming up:

• NETTIES 2000, March 23 - 25, Oulu Finland, URL: http://www.netties.net/
• 11th EAEEIE Annual Conference on Innovations in Education for Electrical and Information Engineering, April 26 - 28 , Ulm, Germany, e-mail: EAEEIE@mwt.e-technik.uni-ulm.de .http://mwt.e-technik.uni-ulm.de/world/hoffmann/Konferenz/
• TELEFORM 2000, April 26 - 28, Marseille France
• THE WORLD EDUCATION MARKET, May 24 - 27, Vancouver Canada, URL: http://www.wemex.com/
• DISTANCE EDUCATION: AN OPEN QUESTION, September 11- 13- 2000, Adelaide Australia, URL http://www.con.unisa.edu.au/cccc/
• EUROPEAN ODL NETWORKING FOR QUALITY LEARNING, 18 - 21 June 2000, Lisbon Portugal: Joint conference of the European ODL Organisations
• LEAGUE FOR INNOVATION IT CONFERENCE, Anaheim USA, URL: http://www.league.org/

 Conferences in 2001:

•  20TH ICDE WORLD CONFERENCE, 1 - 5 April 2001, Düsseldorf Germany