Recording of the discussion is available here

Format: Panel debate and introduction to the week Introduction: Innovations in the area of open, distance and online learning have been shaping the landscape of education in Europe and the global world. Geographical boarders merged, societies became digitalized and networked, learning enriched and enhanced by technology application. Technology enriched learning became the tool to develop societies, to implement sustainable development policies and to implement the mission of global education. We must acknowledge the fact that European policy and ambitions are also now, as never before, closely followed by global organizations (such as Unesco and others) with the interest to transfer best practices to other countries in the world. European practices are in high demand, for recognition and cooperation interest. European models of collaboration, exchange and technology enhanced learning are ready and must be shared with the world. EDEN, as European network of Academics and professionals working for 25 years in the field of open and distance learning, recognizes European experience in integration of technological innovations in education as highly experienced, solid, and useful to be exploited and transferred to other countries in the world. In return, European open and collaborative way to share experiences must generate feedback from other regions of the world to foster the developments of education innovations. This has already been proved through the cooperation with the US Distance Learning Association (USDLA), where both, the US and Europe associations have shared and boosted their best practices during the National Distance Learning Week in the US, and learnt from each other. Therefore, EDEN calls European education policy makers and education providers to participate in European Distance Learning Week (DLW). The opening webinar of the week at 13:00 – 14:30 CET on November 7, 2016, will embrace the online panel discussion among Senior leaders of EDEN network of Academics and Professionals, policy makers and the leaders from other European associations – to discuss:

• Why do we need European DLW and where it comes from?
• What are the innovations in Europe in the area of open, distance and online learning that have been dominating European landscape of education for the last 10 years?
• What are the best practices and the strengths of Europe that went through the development, the transformation process and have been integrated in education organizations for the mainstreaming?
• Why challenges these innovations raised for education policy and education providers and how European policy of education addresses these challenges today?
• What is the future of European leadership in open, distance and online learning?

Panel speakers:

• Sharon Goldstein, USDLA, Marci Powell, USDLA
• Denis Crowley WG2020
• Brian Jurczyk-Arnold, LLLP  (TBC)
• Brikena Xhomaqi, Director, LLL Platform
• Sebastian Horndasch, programme manager at Hochschulforum Digitalisierung (German Forum for Higher Education in the Digital Age)
• Alek Tarkowski, OER Policy forum
• Wim Van Petegem, EDEN Vice President, KULeuven
• Lisa Marie Blaschke, EDEN Vice President, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg