The Conference will deal with economic, technological, and social aspects of distance education; the gap between formal education and work; eLearning in conventional institutions; and the balance among quality, diversity, and plurality.

Speakers announced to date include

• Tian Belawati, Rector, Universitas Terbuka (Open University), Indonesia;  President, International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE)
• Alan Bruce, CEO and Director, Universal Learning Systems, Ireland; Vice- President, European Distance and E-learning Network (EDEN).
• Sir John Daniel and Stamenka Uvalić-Trumbić
• Steve Ernst, Vice President for Innovation and Strategy, Excelsior College, USA
• Diana Laurillard, Professor, London Knowledge Lab, Institute of Education, University of London, United Kingdom
• Mandla Makhanya, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, the University of South Africa (UNISA); ICDE Executive Committee member
• Alan Tait, Director of International Teacher Education, Professor of Distance Education and Development, The Open University, United Kingdom; ICDE Executive Committee member
• Vladimir Tikhomirov, Academic Supervisor, Moscow State University of  Economics, Statistics and Informatics (MESI), Russian Federation
• John Zvereff, Director of International Development, Open University of Catalonia (UOC), Spain

Paper submissions and poster proposals

Participation in the Conference as an author or co-author of a paper is most welcome, and submissions will be evaluated by double-peer review.

Research findings, projects, and initiatives, as well as proposals for new projects and cooperation may also be presented through poster presentations.

Full paper submissions should be made by 24 May.