Implications of a "Trans-European Network for Education and Training" for Decision Makers Involved with Organizational Training Programmes

Increasingly, decision makers in corporate training settings are considering the value of access for themselves, their employees, and their clients, to distributed sources of information and resources and to opportunities for asynchronous communication. To reach the potential of such interconnectiveness, integrated telecommunications-mediated services are becoming a key factor. In Europe, a "Trans-European Network for Education and Training" is in evolution through which multiple activities associated with organizational training may come to be carried out. But for this to materialize, a supply-and-demand mechanism must develop within the training community for such a Network Service. In this article, based on a year-long study funded by the Commission of the European Community, various issues concerning their organization's response to such a Network Service that will confront decision makers involved with training are identified. Also, guidelines and a strategy are suggested for increasing the likelihood that a "Trans-European Network for Education and Training" will develop the critical mass of usage needed to make it a cost-effective resource for training.