The European Federation for Open and Distance Learning (EFODL) organized the international seminar 'E4, the digital learning highway through Europe' at School for the Future in 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, on October 11th and 12th 2005. The seminar aimed at good practices in the field of e-learning, e-competences, e-assessment and e-validation.

After words of welcome by Coen Free, president of Koning Willem I College and Johan van Oost, president of EFODL, Coen Free delivered his outstanding key-note ‘E4 in 3D’. After that participants could make a choice from a number of workshops and lectures to attend, most of them fitting in with ‘European Good Practices’.

Coen Free and Johan van Oost

During day two (October 12th) the focus was on EVC’s (Erkenning van Eerder Verworven Competenties – Previously Acquired Competences/accreditation of prior learning). Mr. Ruud Duvekot made a clear analysis of the issue and Mrs. Marie Odile Paulet from Toulouse, France, explained the French approach. In his presentation ‘Between high tech and high touch’ Prof. Dr. Marc Vermeulen spoke of the slowness and relative successes of innovations in education. In Flanders (Belgium) a system for the accreditation of acquired competences is being developed. Mrs. Leen Vanaerschot and Mr. Marc Torch explained the lines along which this is done.

Marie Odile Paulet

In her closing session Mrs. Yvonne Moerman, vice-president of Koning Willem I College, concluded that on the whole European minds are focused on the same subjects. Of course there are different approaches, but we all learn from each other. And that is what this seminar was all about!