THE EUROPEAN OBSERVATORY OF LIFELONG LEARNING IN RURAL AREAS: The Role of ICT in Meeting the Needs of Small Enterprises

Brussels 7th of September 2007

Ruralia-instituutti

Ruralia Institute

Ruralia-institutet

Why Euracademy Observatory?

The role of SMEs is vital to the viability of rural areas Lifelong learning has been seen as indispensable condition for

business competitiveness and economic prosperity (Lisbon Council

2000) There is a need to improve methods in supporting the lifelong

learning of SMEs, especially in rural areas ICT can provide one realistic possibility Improving the utilisation of ICT in lifelong learning requires

understanding on the current situation, potential and markets The information is scattered at the moment and comparable

information on rural SMEs in this context does not exist

What is Euracademy Observatory?

A project

A permanent information service in Internet

A network

Euracademy Observatory: project

A transnational project financed in part by the European

Commission in the context of Leonardo Da Vinci's Community

Vocational Training Action Programme.

Supports the creation of a resource centre and databank of research

findings concerning the lifelong learning needs of SMEs, micro-

enterprises and the self-employed in rural areas, with emphasis on

the role IT can play in meeting these needs.

Euracademy Observatory: project activities

Creating the prequisitions for the Internet service

Euracademy Observatory: project activities

Creating statistics and research material for the Internet service by

documenting, monitoring and evaluating the use of ICT-supported

training in the context of lifelong learning

Review policies and practises of ICT-supported life long learning aiming to

identify and promote good examples

Describe and document the characteristics of the provision of ICT-

supported training in rural areas

Identify the needs and profile of the recipients of ICT-supported training

(expressed demand for ICT-supported training)

Identify the latent demand and investigate constraints of ICT-supported

training

Euracademy Observatory: project activities

Guarantee the long-term continuation and sustenance of the

Observatory

Euracademy Observatory: a permanent information service in Internet

Targeted to inform policy makers and practise (training

organisations, social partners, entrepreneurs, developers and

consults)

Regular updates and dissemination activities

www.euracademy-observatory.org

Euracademy Observatory: network

The Euracademy Observatory forms a wide network of the project

partners, training organisations, entrepreneurs, NGOs and other

social partners working with the problematic of ICT-supported

training in rural areas

wide knowledge base that can be integrated to the other

European activities

Critical mass needed for the maintaining and developing

Observatory further

Observatory network is a part of wider Euracademy Association

network

WWW.Euracademy-Observatory.org

Welcome to visit!

WWW.Euracademy-Observatory.org

Thank you!