Brussels, 20/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - At a multi-stakeholder conference entitled “Towards a learning society”, in Brussels on 19 May, Viviane Reding, the Commissioner for Information Society and Media, and Ján Figel', the Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism, urged stakeholders to work closely together to harness eLearning for growth, jobs and an inclusive society. Some 500 participants from industry, education, the social partners, civil society and public authorities accepted the Commission's invitation to take stock of Europe's eLearning strengths and weaknesses from a variety of perspectives, including education, enterprise and industry, employment, and social inclusion. Stakeholders from different disciplines and sectors are working closely together to improve research, innovation and lifelong learning in a “knowledge triangle”, through the effective use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The Commission stresses that these technologies have the potential to significantly advance our progress towards the growth and jobs objectives of the revised Lisbon strategy, as new open and flexible forms of ICT supported learning (e-learning) are increasingly being used for the re-skilling of workers.
Commissioners Reding and Figel hope the conference will lead to a joint initiative to continue the dialogue, build-upon the results so far and help set strategic priorities for further work (until 2008). Viviane Reding commented said: "This conference inaugurates a concerted drive to upgrade Europe's information and communication technology skills - an upgrade that is crucial to the success of its revitalised growth and jobs strategy… Lifelong digital learning is also increasingly necessary, to sustain Europe's cultural creativity and economic competitiveness. Therefore it is at the top of the agenda of the new initiative i2010 (or European Information Society 2010) with the clear long-term perspective of more and better jobs in the existence of a well-educated, skilled and adaptable workforce and solid education.' Jan Figel commented: 'We need lifelong learning for lifelong earning… ICT is an important tool in our efforts to improve quality, provide better access to learning and open-up our systems to the world.'