News story

EIfEL endorses CeLP®

Learning NewsThe Training Foundation

The European Institute for e-Learning (EIfEL) has announced its endorsement of the Certified e-Learning Professional ( CeLP® ) programme, paving the way for wider adoption of the initiative across Europe.

The Training Foundation and EIfEL have jointly announced that EIfEL certification is now available for candidates that successfully complete the necessary course of study and are awarded a CeLP® Certificate or Diploma by the UK Institute of IT Training. These European awards will also qualify holders to apply for corporate membership of EIfEL.

The CeLP® programme consists of some 300 learner hours of tutor-supported e-Learning and consists of twelve certificated courses aimed at five roles within the e-Learning field; tutor, trainer, developer, manager and consultant. By successfully completing further elective courses delegates may upgrade their certification to the CeLP® Diploma in e-Learning.

EIfEL is a non-profit European professional association created in 2001 and headquartered in France, The mission of the organisation is to enable:

• learning individuals to manage their own learning, knowledge, competencies and continuing professional development
• learning organisations to provide a framework for organisational knowledge and develop staff competencies
• learning cities and learning regions to provide a framework for innovation, development and social inclusion

EIfEL offers members the opportunity to be part of a professional community, to develop a vision of e-learning and to contribute to its advancement.

Speaking after the announcement at the 4th ELearn Expo Conference and Exhibition in Paris, Chief Executive Serge Ravet commented: “The Certified e-Learning Professional programme satisfies a number of key performance indicators included in our own competency framework and makes a significant contribution to the professionalisation of e-learning practitioners. We have noted the significant take-up of these awards in the UK and regard them as being of value to the greater European e-learning community.”

Nick Mitchell, Chief Executive of The Training Foundation welcomed the agreement: “In the United Kingdom the Certified e-Learning Professional qualification is already regarded as the key benchmark of excellence for e-Learning related skills, thanks to widespread adoption by major employers, employees and freelancers working across the public and private sectors. This endorsement by EifEL represents a very important step, marking the start of the next phase of development for the CeLP® programme as we expand internationally.”

Mitchell concluded: “We regard our partnerships with the UK Institute of IT Training and with EIFEL as equally important twin strands in an interlocking strategy designed to create common standards and a standardised approach to e-Learning skills certification across the European Community and beyond.”

Notes for Editors:
High resolution JPEG photographs of Serge Ravet and Nick Mitchell are available on request.

A full CeLP® prospectus with details of EIfeL certification can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat format from:

http://www.trainingfoundation.com/tfimages/ftp/CeLP_Prospectus_2004_v1.pdf



About the EIfEL
In partnership with organisations across Europe, the EIfEL has produced, and will continually update, a set of forward looking standards of competence covering the principal activities of staff working in education, training and human resource management, using knowledge, information and learning technologies (KILT) to support individual and organisational learning. The standards are being used for self-positioning, recruitment, training and certification of professional experience. They will be integrated into the e-portfolio, a tool for supporting individual continuing professional development and managing personal as well as organisational competence and knowledge.

EIfEL has also produced guides to e-learning solutions, as well as studies on the evolution of the market and professional practice.

EIfEL recently created E4L (Espace European pour l’Excellence du E-Learning) a European centre for in e-learning Quality to create a network of ‘e-learning regions and cities’ with the support of the region Poitou-Charentes (France).

EIfEL is also spearheading the development and promotion of the ePortfolio in Europe.

EIfEL organised the first international conference on the subject, has launched Europortfolio, the European consortium, and with EPICC, a European project, will be working on the interoperability of ePortfolios. ePortfolio events are now planned in 5 European countries for 2004, culminating in ePortfolio 2004 in La Rochelle, France.

While still a young organisation, EIfEL is already recognised as a key actor in the e-learning scene, providing a vision for the future of learning in a knowledge society.

EIfeL has established partnerships with government ministries, educational institutions, companies of all sizes, training organisations and providers of e-learning solutions in order to develop and offer a range of services to our members and contribute to the advancement of best practice.

EIfEL produces LiKE (Learning in a Knowledge Europe), a highly regarded newsletter promoting the ideas of a learning society.

EIfEL is also involved in a series of European Commission-funded projects either as partner, co-ordinator, or as external consultant:

• SEEL: the impact of e-learning quality assurance policies on regional innovation and development – led by EIfEL
• SEEQUEL: building a consensus on e-learning quality
• ReLL: study of regional life long learning policies (learning regions)
• e-Rail: competencies of trainers in European railway services
• e-TTNet: e-skills for trainers
• L-Change: report on the impact of e-learning
• DELOS: a European observatory of e-learning
• GEARS: e-learning for engineering – led by a UK Member
• ECreator: competences for developing e-learning – led by a Spanish partner
• TELCERT: 6th framework research projects: on e-learning technical standards (starts in November) with the Open Group, IMS, Apple, Sun and other prestigious partners.
• EPICC: eLearning call response on the ePortfolio - led by EIfEL.