Objective
BACKGROUND DELTA requires a combination of market analysis, scenario forecasting and strategy development to assist large scale uptake of technology based education and training services in Europe.
The BEACON Project addresses the development of Flexible and Distance Learning (FDL); within Europe. BEACON assists and advises on the implementation planning of pilot experiments research projects; and interfaces with all aspects of FDL within public and private sector users, producers and markets for the purpose of technology and knowledge transfer. In addressing these requirements, BEACON seeks to:
Build implementation scenarios for the development of technology-based learning.
Design a coherent implementation strategy for User-organisations and other actors involved in the implementation of FDL.
Develop market strategies for Policy-makers and Producers.
Build an evolutionary strategy to support the EC and national governments in the policy making process.
BEACON comprises six main and nine associate partners drawn from eleven European Community states. This Consortium brings together the interests and points of view of large scale education and training suppliers, European FDL associations, professional bodies, specialist consultancies, research institutes and user organisations.
In spite of increasing awareness of the potentials of open and flexible learning, growth has been slower than was expected in the 80s. Results from the DELTA Exploratory Action surveys conducted by EIOL, PRO-DELTA, ETEE, START-UP, OSIRIS Projects and BIS MacKintosh CCAM Projects, identified a need to improve the knowledge of the market, identified the roles of the key actors, ie user-organisations, service providers and producers; and explored the potentials of some target sectors.
An 'Implementation Handbook', based on substantial surveys of the European learning technology market, was produced to offer advice to the open and flexible learning providers, and thus to help create a growing market. The Implementation Handbook provides practical guidance on tactics and operational procedures to follow when implementing learning technologies. Each section is followed by questions to assist self or institutional assessment of current practice with implicit advice for future directions. The advice draws on the outcome of research undertaken by the project.
A Market Observatory was established and has produced several reports. This was based on the activities of the country-based 11 Market Observatory Points (MOPs).
APPROACH
BEACON employs an original European Market Observatory approach. A network comprising 11 Market Observatory Points are in place to bring quantitative, interpretive and critical insights on the development of FDL within the market place.
The diffusion of learning technologies is dependent on a wide range of social and economic processes. Innovation, investment, demand and the availability/quality of labour are significant factors that impact on the diffusion and uptake of new learning technologies. BEACON approaches the alignment of organisational, technical and pedagogical standards with standards of human competence across Europe. BEACON combines a SYSTEM (methodologies, frameworks, models) approach with an ACTION one (implementation planning and management tools, information and analysis, guidelines and consultancy support) to fully address the Market Analysis and Implementation Planning objectives of DELTA, these being:
The design and build of an implementation framework which both gains from the plans and experiences of the pilot projects, and provides inputs to their respective implementation actions.
The formulation of general and specific implementation scenarios for the development of technology based learning. This refers explicitly to detecting, analysing and developing market trends, and seeking to enhance the performance of traditional training services.
The design of a coherent implementation strategy based on the use of information, telecommunications and broadcast technology for supporting networks of local, regional, national and trans-European learning services.
the provision of an evolutionary strategy linked to the key outputs of previous phases of DELTA, reflecting relevant external market forecasts and placing at centre stage the achievements of the pilots.
OUTPUTS
The potential value of BEACON is set against first its understanding and then its operationalisation of EC thinking in delegating implementation planning to specific projects.
BEACON will contribute to the objectives of the Community by:
Enhancing the transfer of learning technology experiences across the Community.
Developing and bringing together user and producer market and implementation perspectives.
Contributing to the process of standardisation through its provision of frameworks and strategies which unify ways of identifying and addressing user (in the broad sense) needs.
The BEACON Market Observatory will provide a strategic intelligence network of a European nature at the heart of the concerns of a large number of national and European FDL initiatives. Already, 11 Market Observatory Points have been established with a system that encompasses Specialised, Regional and National Market surveys. Furthermore, a support service to help the Pilot projects in the preparation of their implementation plans is ongoing.
IMPACT
The value-added of the BEACON project will be realised in the following ways:
i. The high profile and participative nature of the project will lead to increased user focus in the design and implementation of other DELTA projects.
ii. The project will create new fora for bringing FDL users and producers together, transfer know-how and technology and explore marketing collaborations.
iii. In the medium term actors involved in the development of FDL markets will, for the first time, benefit from the availability of regular provision of data and information on observed trends. This will better inform design, marketing and delivery, as well as reduce costs and risks to the producers and users concerned.
iv. In the medium term, FDL product and service planners will have access to state-of-the-art research methodologies to assist their forecasting efforts in this complex and multi-variable marketplace.
v. DELTA and other policy makers at Pan European, National, Regional and Local levels will be able to draw upon a framework of specific and evolutionary implementation strategies, grounded in a well-established framework of research activities.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering information engineering telecommunications
You need to log in or register to use this function
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Data not available
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Data not available
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Data not available
Coordinator
CV22 7UH Rugby
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.