Reports reveal growth in e-learning

Citation

(2002), "Reports reveal growth in e-learning", Journal of European Industrial Training, Vol. 26 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/jeit.2002.00326eab.004

Reports reveal growth in e-learning

Reports reveal growth in e-learning

A 70-per-cent year-on-year increase in revenues from electronic learning is among the findings revealed in two reports by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop).

The reports show that e-learning accounts for more than 30 per cent of the earnings of various private and public-sector training suppliers, compared with 18 per cent two years ago.

E-learning and Training in Europe covers all EU member states plus several other European countries, and includes a range of e-learning suppliers and consumers from specialist and private training companies to voluntary and academic institutions.

Although around 30 per cent of vocational education and training across Europe is now delivered electronically, the actual proportion varies from around 50 per cent in the Nordic countries to around 10 per cent in others.

Despite these developments, those expected to deliver e-learning are not sure that they are fully equipped for the task. This is revealed in the second Cedefop report, Users' Views on E-learning.

Some 32 per cent of respondents to a survey on trainers' abilities suggested that their skills in preparing a specification and tools for electronic training were "poor", with only 17 per cent thinking that they were "very good" or "excellent". Yet more than 60 per cent of the same trainers believe that it is important to have the ability to moderate and stimulate learners in a virtual workplace.

Users' Views on E-learning is a collection of surveys on individual aspects of e-learning hosted on the European Training Village Internet site throughout last year. As well as the skills of trainers using e-learning, survey topics include the economics of its use and its value in training people with disabilities.

Further information on the two reports is available on the Internet, at http://www2.trainingvillage.gr/etv/elearning/conference/paris2002/paris_ei_form.asp