eXact learning solutions and partners win blended learning project on EU governance for European Commission, Parliament and Agencies’ staff
The European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA, the leading centre of European learning and development for the public sector), the College of Europe (the world’s first university institute of postgraduate studies and training in European affairs) and eXact learning solutions (a leading European online and mobile learning solutions provider) have been awarded a four year contract to provide the European Commission, Parliament, its Bodies and Agencies with state-of-the-art online blended learning materials and programs on EU decision making, law and policies.
The collaboration between EIPA, the College of Europe and eXact learning solutions came about during 2011, when the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Human Resources and Security (DG HR) issued a tender entitled ‘(Multiple) Framework contract for provision of staff training and related consultancy services to all the European Union Institutions, bodies and agencies.
The consortium, named ‘EU Governance Training, Consultancy and e-learning Services’, was awarded a contract for Lot 6 of the project - ‘EU Governance matters’. The four year framework agreement includes the following services:
- Consultancy to prepare tailor-made (face-to-face and e-learning) training courses
- Delivery of professional tailor-made training courses run by a trainer
- Consultancy on managing and mentoring blended learning projects
- Provision of a standard ‘EU Governance matters’ face-to-face training catalogue
- Provision of a standard ‘EU Governance matters’ e-learning catalogue and its integration within existing LMS platforms by means of innovative LCMS and DR solutions
After over 30 years of providing classroom-delivered training on European affairs, EIPA selected eXact learning solutions and its award winning eXact LCMS platform to help its instructional designers develop blended learning solutions based on a new e-learning catalogue, co-produced by eXact learning solutions with EIPA in association with the College of Europe.
The catalogue - known as the ‘EU e-learning Governance Collection’ - currently contains over 30 titles, developed by these three organisations. These titles are available to all European Union Institutions, bodies and agencies’ staff members as online learning, offered under Lot 6.
The e-learning catalogue was produced using eXact learning solutions’ eXact LCMS (learning content management system) and its powerful XML templating technology for rich media and mobile learning content authoring.
Thanks to the advanced Digital Repository and Content Management features of the eXact LCMS the catalogue can be dynamically integrated with any third party LMS, including the Blackboard™ LMS which is at the heart of the Commission’s training services. It can also be customised for each contracting body, with this customisation ranging from brand re-skinning to additional language localisation and content re-packaging.
In addition, eXact learning solutions’ LCMS authoring tools are being used to coordinate and collaborate with distributed content production centres in Maastricht and Bruges, where dedicated subject matter experts and instructional designers maintain and extend the online courses.
The modules aim to provide learners – who tend to be widely distributed geographically, with different professional profiles and not completely experienced in using PCs and/or e-learning for their training needs - with a clear understanding of the various topics related to EU Governance. In addition, the learning materials have to cater for the individual learning needs of a multilingual audience - and so provide an intuitive multimedia interface as well as pedagogically sound training interactions.
According to EIPA’s Lot 6 project leader, Edward Best : “We selected eXact learning solutions after a Europe-wide selection process, given the growing demand from our installed base to move towards blended learning and add state-of-the-art e-learning materials to our existing classroom based courses. “
“The awarding of this large Lot 6 contract demonstrates that our partnering decisions were correct,” added his colleague and lot 6 e-learning project leader, Cosimo Monda.
“We’re delighted to be able to contribute our wealth of e-learning experience, which we’ve developed in the international market, to this native European consortium working together for providing excellence in blended learning,” commented Fabrizio Cardinali, CEO of eXact Learning Solutions’ North America and Australia operations and Chair of the European Learning Industry Group.
“In the current political climate, it’s more important than ever that we train people to be well versed in EU decision making, law and policies – and, that this relies on native European technological leadership as well as subject matter expertise, working together for Europe’s future.”
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About EIPA – European Institute of Public Administration (www.eipa.eu),
EIPA is the leading centre of European learning and development for the public sector. With over 30 years’ experience, EIPA is the place where people who deal with European affairs can learn in a multi-cultural environment benefiting from its combination of practical know-how and scientific excellence.
About COE - College of Europe (www.coleurope.eu)
The College of Europe founded in 1949 as the world’s first university institute of postgraduate studies and training in European affairs, is a centre of academic excellence preparing individuals to work and live in a European and international environment. Offering six academic programmes to more than 400 students every year in its two campuses (Bruges and Natolin, Warsaw), the College of Europe provides a unique and challenging multicultural and pluri-linguistic learning environment comprising an international body of students, academics and practitioners.