Brussels (B), July 2007 - The European Foundation for Quality in eLearning EFQUEL organized an open seminar entitled "Quality Innovation: from Inspection to Inspiration", which was held in Naples on 13 June. The seminar presented the progress of the Foundation's activities, the establishment of a European Quality Mark for eLearning, and some of the finalists of the EFQUEL eQuality Award applications. On the same day, the General Assembly took place and a new board of directors was elected.
The diverse program of the open seminar highlighted the importance of quality awareness, focusing especially on the learning and teaching processes in higher education. The talks presented the progress of the Quality Mark initiative, which links a Europe-wide network of stakeholders involved in the European quality assurance process. The overarching aim of the seminar was to exchange best practice on Quality of eLearning: From quality of learning to quality as learning.
The seminar's opening session featured presentations by Dr. Claudio Dondi (Menon Network, Scienter) and Dr. Ulf Ehlers (University of Duisburg Essen). As president of EFQUEL, Dr. Dondi introduced the Federative European Quality Mark initiative, highlighting the directions for constituting a reference point whose goal is not to create a single European mark, but rather to establish a common quality approach for the actors in the field of eLearning quality. The aim was to find a common denominator for the existing marks while leaving space for innovation. This was called the "double labeling" concept.
Dr. Ulf Ehlers is the vice president of the Foundation. His presentation emphasized the shift of the focus from inspection to inspiration, especially in the European higher education field. He also stressed the development of the quality culture and the quality commitment to the attitude of sharing values to develop quality. Trust building measures, the establishment of processes, and quality development through competence development are key concepts for quality management processes in the higher education field.
Mr. Serge Raver consolidated the world of assessment and quality in the Learning Society with the colleagues in the Seminar during his presentation called "From Quality of Learning to Quality as Learning". The Seminar closed after an intensive discussion that was followed by the presentations of the Quality Award to the finalist applications. These included Schewa Mandel, eLearning Center, University of Zurich (award winner), Jim Herbolich, European Foundation for Management Development, and Giacomo Gensini SAGO S.p.A
The European Foundation for Quality in eLearning EFQUEL also elected new members to its Board of Directors at this year's General Assembly, also held on 13 June in Naples. The Board members are elected for a three-year term of office that can be renewed.
EFQUEL Board of Directors:
