Milton Keynes (UK) / Sestri Levante (IT), June 2007 - The European learning industry is repositioning itself. The former eLearning Industry Group (eLIG) has become the European Learning Industry Group (ELIG). This is more than a cosmetic change: it reflects a major shift in the marketplace. ELIG will be co-chaired and led by Intel and Giunti Labs.
Along with a new name and a new logo, a new leadership team has been established. Joe Hegarty, Director of Business Operations, Intel Innovation Centres, and Fabrizio Cardinali, CEO of Giunti Labs, have been elected co-chairs. The executive committee now comprises five members. In addition to the chairs, they are:
Richard Straub has been appointed ELIG's Secretary General.
"The term eLearning has been overused," said Joe Hegarty. "Technology is now clearly embedded in all modern learning solutions. The challenge today is innovation in learning by leveraging capabilities provided by technology."
Fabrizio Cardinali said, "We need to reshape European learning content production and help the publishing industry to achieve content personalisation to best support the dynamic and changing skills requirements for Europe's workforce in a lifelong learning process."
ELIG will provide industry thought leadership and policy input to the European Commission and national governments. At the same time, it will function as a networking and partnering platform for its members. To fulfil its broader mission, ELIG plans to double its membership base from the current level of 36 members within the next eighteen months.
Richard Straub, the ELIG Secretary General said, "ELIG is a unique network, with key industry players at its core and other stakeholders from the public and private sector in its broader membership, thus bringing together thought leadership, pragmatism, and action orientation."
ELIG has engaged in important new partnerships with the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and the MENON Research and Education Network. These organisations will complement ELIG's capabilities by providing event support and management (EFMD) as well as network support and facilitation (MENON), along with linkages to their member networks.
In addition, joint initiatives are being envisaged. ELIG is also engaging with the European Training Foundation (ETF) in a research project about public-private sector cooperation in transforming education in the MEDA region.
To cope with the new challenges, education and learning themselves must be subject to fundamental innovation - be it in schools, universities, professional training and lifelong learning at large.
