E-Competence at higher education Institutions: E-Skills and the learning Organisation

The European Commission has declared e-learning as a key element in the long term strategy of the eEurope Initiative, aiming “… to ensure that the European Union fully benefits from the opportunities offered by the Information Society Technologies” (DG EAC 2003). Within the eLearning Action Plan, the DG EAC has identified the importance of “… training of European teachers and trainers” as well as the “… facilitation of cooperation and networking between actors” (DG EAC 2001). Whilst eCompetence has been referred to as a subtopic in a number of projects funded under the eLearning Action Plan, there has been, thus far, no substantial in-depth analysis or development of the theme on a European level for Higher Education. The European eCompetence Initiative (www.ecompetence.info) tries to respond to the challenges mentioned above and to develop a substantial in-depth analysis of the theme for Higher Education