Commission adopts proposal for new e-learning programme
The Commission has adopted a proposal for a programme that promotes the use of new information society technologies (NICT) to improve e-learning tools. The programme will receive 36 million euro of funding over three years, and comes in response to calls made at the Lisbon, Stockholm and Barcelona Councils to better integrate NICT into education and training systems. Responding to the decision, Viviane Reding, Commissioner for Education and Culture, said: 'People without access to this new form of literacy run a severe risk of social and vocational exclusion. It is to counter this and to ensure that the Internet is used more in schools, training centres and universities that the Prodi Commission is proposing the e-learning programme [...].' The programme will focus on three key themes, and provides for instruments such as virtual structures for information, cooperation, and the exchange of good practice. The scheme will also promote EU participation in international projects conducted by institutions such as the organisation for economic cooperation and development (OECD). The first area addressed in the programme is combating digital illiteracy. The idea is to support the development of digital literacy training methods through research and analysis projects. There will be a particular focus on citizens who have problems with access to traditional education and training, and actions will include the development of interactive games to make learning NICT more fun. Using NICT to facilitate the mobility of university students and teachers, increase the quality of teaching, and promote mutual recognition of curricula are the key ideas behind the creation of 'virtual campuses'. The e-learning programme will help to create joint virtual university campuses in at least three Member States through the development of online courses, thus creating a real and virtual mix of curricula. The initiative will promote the networking of virtual universities in Europe, and provide models for public-private partnerships in higher education. The final element in the programme is the twinning of schools through the Internet, which will enable young Europeans to take part in international cooperation projects while they are at school. A support and advice network will be set up to facilitate virtual twinning, based on the involvement of teachers who have experience in this area. The programme will also initiate public relations exercises such as competitions, prizes and publications to promote the virtual twinning of schools. The ultimate goals of the e-learning programme are to foster social cohesion, and contribute to the process of making the European Union the most dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010.