Brussels, 12/09/2000 (Agence Europe) - In the framework of her presentation of the Community e-Learning initiative before the Dundalk Institute of Technology (Ireland), on Friday (for this initiative, see EUROPE of 10 and 28 March), the Commissioner for Education, Viviane Reding announced the timetable for the work aimed at its rapid implementation. First of all, in collaboration with the French Presidency, the Commission is organising an "e-Learning Conference" in Paris on 22 November. Before the end of the year, it will establish a general framework to discuss progress achieved regarding innovation, including the creation of a high-level group of experts bringing together "top thinkers" from the world of education and business. These will deal with questions of "designing tomorrow's education and training". The group's work and that of the Paris Conference will be followed by another conference on the same subject, to be held in Stockholm in May 2001, under the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council. Finally, the Commission is looking at the appropriateness of organising a first European e-Learning Summit, in partnership with the information technologies industry, in the first half of 2001.
Ms. Reding also said that in view of the next Education Council, to be held in November, her services would put the finishing touches to a paper presenting all planned actions at European level, to focus and mobilise all Community programmes and instruments (see EUROPE of 29 March). An internal Task Force should be operational by the end of this month with as task to cooperate with the representatives of Member States and the world of industry.
You may recall, the Community e-learning initiative aims to galvanize European educational and cultural elements, as well as economic and social players, with a view to adapting the educational and training systems to digital knowledge and culture.