This document provides an introduction and overview of the EDEN organization. It discusses EDEN's history and activities since 1991, including its strong membership community and role as a hub for networking. Recent progress is highlighted, such as growth in membership and strategic activities. Key aspects of EDEN's work to promote quality and professional development in open, distance and e-learning are also summarized, such as its annual conferences, academic journal, fellowship awards, and book publications. Partnerships with other international organizations are mentioned. Current focuses and goals for continuing to develop EDEN are outlined. The document concludes by welcoming attendees to the current conference in Valencia.

1. INTRODUCTION TOEDEN
ANDTOTHE CONFERENCE
Professor Alan Tait, President of EDEN

2. HOWDOWE WORK?
• EDEN: launched in 1991
• Strong background in active membership
• Meeting place: an influential “hub”
in lively networks.
• Functions, activities in synergy:
– membership,
– conferences,
– policy,
– project work

3. THE PROGRESS IN 2009-2010
• Maturity of EDEN's profile and strategic activities
• Membership services – new portal of the
Network of Academics and Professionals (NAP)
• Good achievements in organisation development and
academic-professional-policy impact
• European experience and know-how in valuable
perspective

4. MEMBERSHIP
• Varied, active, developing community
• EDEN Membership in 2010:
– 190 institutional members, 1150 individuals in the
Network of Academics and Professionals,
– Altogether 56 countries
• Over 400 institutions represented
in the membership
• 15 institutions joined EDEN in the last year
130 new members in NAP

5. KEYWORDS:
QUALITY ANDPROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
• Conferences
– EDEN conferences: major academic
and professional events in Europe;
• European Journal of
Open, Distance and E-learning (EURODL)
• Fellow Awards
– EDEN Fellow and Senior Fellow
Respected scheme of recognition
• The EDEN Book:
Distance and E-learning in Transition
Learning Innovation, Technology and Social Challenges
Se le ctio n o f be st pape rs o f the EDENCo nfe re nce s

6. PARTNERSHIPS WITHINTERNATIONAL
FELLOWORGANISATIONS
• EDEN: constructive partner in the European distance and
e-learning networking initiatives
– The Learnovation Stakeholders Round Table,
– European Learning Industry Group – ELIG,
– EFQUEL (European Foundation for Quality in E-learning),
– European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD),
– Observatory of Borderless Higher Education, (OBHE),
– Elearningeuropa.info,
• Reciprocal membership, liaison with international networks
– EuroPace, European Students’ Union, European Society for Engineering
Education (SEFI), International Association for Intercultural Education
(IAIE), European Association for Distance Learning (EADL),
MENON Network, European Universities Continuing Education Network
(EUCEN)...
– US Distance Learning Association (USDLA), Sloan-C Consortium (US),
• European Economic and Social Committee
Secretary General as Delegate

7. EU PROJECT WORK
• Focus on innovative, strategic projects
• The EDEN potential acknowledged and utilised
in EU programmes
• In the past 8 years: EDEN collaborated
with 168 institutions in projects

8. WHAT NEXT?
• Keep the momentum: develop EDEN
in range of size and impact
• Develop further the membership services for
collaboration and engagement
• Valorisation, mobilisation of the
renewed NAP Area
• Encouraging and recognising excellence:
Fellow Scheme, EURODL, Best Research awards
• Maintain the good branding
• 20 1 1 : 20 th EDENAnnive rsary !
Lookforward to a next modernisation wave in EDEN !

9. Welcome to Valencia !
Welcome to the EDEN
Family!
HAVE AN EXCELLENT
CONFERENCE!

10. Welcome to Valencia !
Welcome to the EDEN
Family!
HAVE AN EXCELLENT
CONFERENCE!