Learning Light
Second Floor, Gladstone Building,
1 St James Row, Sheffield, S1 2EU
Tel +44 (0)114 223 2442; Web www.learninglight.com
4 May 2010
Learning Light co-ordinates pan-European e-learning project
Learning Light is co-ordinating a pan-European project to enable
'marginalised' learners to develop their knowledge and skills via
e-learning.
Learning Light, a company limited by guarantee which focuses on
promoting the use of e-learning and learning technologies, is
leading an EU-wide consortium of organisations developing effective
ways to use e-learning to reach and engage 'marginalised' learners.
The 300,000 euro project, funded by the EU under the Leonardo
Transfer of Innovation scheme, involves Learning Light, The Workshop
Sheffield (TWS) and the learning development consultancy, VMRS (all
based in Yorkshire), along with partner organisations in Italy,
Greece, Romania and Poland.
The first phase of the project - recently completed - involved
research in these four countries as well as the UK.
Learning Light's David Patterson explained: "In the UK, we studied
the Somali community living here. In Poland, we studied women who
were returning to work and we looked at other groups in Italy,
Greece and Romania.
"Having disseminated and explored the results of this research - at
a conference in Poland in early May - we are moving on to use an
open source learning management system (LMS), developed by our Greek
partners as we launch a series of workshops to attract and engage
the interest of people in these groups.
"We will then roll out this initiative across Europe, using the
experience and expertise we've built up to identify and contact
people who find it difficult to undertake formal learning," he
added. "The aim is then to engage these people in learning through
more flexible learning delivery methods and technologies, including
e-learning."
Learning Light expects to continue its involvement with this project
after the initial two year period of EU funding.
Patterson commented: "Dissemination and sustainability are the key
issues of this project. In recent years, Sheffield has become the
headquarters of a number of innovative e-learning companies. This
project is allowing us to export some of the e-learning expertise
we've developed here - and allow other European Union countries to
model what the UK is doing."
End
Notes for Editors
About the Report
This report began as a simple attempt to update the report written
by John Helmer, on behalf of Learning Light, in 2007 on the size and
value of the UK e-learning industry. The 2009 Report updated this by
interviewing a number of leading players (vendors) in the industry
to ask their view of the market and by further seeking to quantify
the market size. This series of semi-structured interviews was
conducted over two months in 2009, with over 24 companies spread
across the UK. The edited narrative of the interviews is included in
an appendix with the full version of the report and a synopsis in
the short version.
The 2009 report's principal finding is that the UK e-learning
industry remains robustly positive in its view of the market and the
prospect for continuing growth. Using financial modeling and third
party research, the report suggests that the annual size of the UK
e-learning industry is currently between £300m and £450m; with
growth rates forecast of between 6.7% and 8%.
About Learning Light Ltd
Learning Light is a non-profit organisation that builds relationships
between learning technology researchers, suppliers, buyers and learners
providing learner-centric information to encourage the growth of
learning technologies. By sharing comprehensive research, highlighting
successes and failures, Learning Light helps to promote the learning
technologies community.
Learning Light provides bespoke and individual services to help both
buyers and suppliers of learning technologies (e-Learning). Its current
services include:
Research Services
Providing access to expert insights, advice and guidance built on
indepth research. Helping organisations to effectively implement
learning technologies (e-Learning) and integrate them within their
workflow processes.
Membership Services
Partnering with leading thinkers in the industry and providing a
network for all interested in the field to share information,
knowledge, insight, experience and expertise, through utilising online
community tools, networking events, conferences and guru seminars.
Professional Services
Our highly experienced team offers organisations access to range of
competitively priced consultancy services supporting buyers with the
effective implementation of their learning technology (e-Learning)
requirements. And, for suppliers, helping to provide a range of
services to assist market awareness and generate growth.
In addition, Learning Light provides a comprehensive Professional
Development programme to help Learning & Development professionals
understand the significance of learning technologies in the workplace
today and how to effectively implement them within the workflow
processes of their organisation.
Sheffield-based Learning Light is supported by Yorkshire Forward, the
regional development agency for Yorkshire, and the Humber and Objective
1 South Yorkshire.
Further information from:
Mark
Pittaway/ Kay Simpson, Learning Light, 0114 201 5703
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 01727 860405
www.learninglight.com
