AN INTRODUCTION TO EDEN AND TO THE CONFERENCE Professor Alan Tait, President of EDEN

HOW DO WE WORK ? EDEN: launched in 1991, a UK based Association Strong background in active membership Meeting place: an influential “hub” in lively networks. Acknowledged in the European professional and policy scene Functions in synergy: membership, conferences, policy, project work Secretariat at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics.

THE PROGRESS IN A most successful year: maturity of EDEN's profile good achievements in organisation development and in the academic-professional-policy impact Learning innovation concept in focus, in line with the “European Year of Creativity and Innovation” EDEN’s European experience and know-how put in valuable perspective

MEMBERSHIP Wide, active, dynamically developing community EDEN Membership in 2009: –200 institutional members, 1200 members in the Network of Academics and Professionals, –Altogether 58 countries: 39 countries from Europe, Associate members from 19 countries (other continents) 441 institutions represented in the membership

MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT institutions joined EDEN, 150 new members in the Network of Academics and Professionals (NAP) A selection of prestigeous new institutions: –from North to South: University of Helsinki, Finland, Riga Technical University, Latvia, University of Greenwich, University of Reading, United Kingdom, Universal Learning Systems Ireland, University of Zürich, University of Lugano, Switzerland, University of Barcelona, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Spain, The Portuguese Bank Training Institute –from East to West The National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation, Egypt, The Centre of Academic Learning – Israel. Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc. from the USA,

KEYWORD: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Conferences –EDEN conferences: major academic and professional events in Europe; –Proceedings: regular resources with academic value –With a community feel, networking and co-operation. –Thematic Autumn conferences: Open Classroom and Research workshops (bi-annual) European Journal of Open, Distance and E-learning (EURODL) Fellow Awards –EDEN Fellow and Senior Fellow –Respected scheme of recognition –Acknowledgement of professional merit by the Association: demonstrating excellence The EDEN Book: Distance and E-learning in Transition Learning Innovation, Technology and Social Challenges –mapping innovation and analysis across Europe, –integrating distance learning traditions and e-learning

PARTNERSHIPS WITH INTERNATIONAL FELLOW ORGANISATIONS EDEN: constructive partner in the European distance and e-learning networking initiatives –The Learnovation Stakeholders Round Table, –European Learning Industry Group – ELIG, –EFQUEL (European Foundation for Quality in E-learning), –European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), –Observatory of Borderless Higher Education, (OBHE), –Elearningeuropa.info, Reciprocal membership, liaison with international networks –EuroPace, European Students’ Union, European Society for Engineering Education (SEFI), International Association for Intercultural Education (IAIE), European Association for Distance Learning (EADL), MENON Network, European Universities Continuing Education Network (EUCEN)... –US Distance Learning Association (USDLA), Sloan-C Consortium (US), European Economic and Social Committee Secretary General as Delegate

EU PROJECT WORK Focus on innovative, strategic projects EDEN’s competences: networking, knowledge base building, quality development, observatory, evaluation, valorisation, dissemination Our potential acknowledged and utilised in important EU programmes In the past 8 years: EDEN collaborated with 168 institutions in projects

WHAT NEXT? Strategic aim: developing in range of size and impact Maintain the good branding of EDEN Manage rightly the old and new assets and achievements Sustain the positive tendency, keep the momentum of progress of EDEN Develop further networking capacities, the service to and engagement of members

Welcome to Gdansk! Welcome to the EDEN Family! HAVE AN EXCELLENT CONFERENCE!