Bob Little previews WOLCE 2000 |
This year's World Open Learning Conference and Exhibition (WOLCE), at the NEC in Birmingham on October 4 and 5, will be the biggest ever in terms of exhibitors - with some 110 organisations displaying the latest in open learning materials, systems and philosophies.
The event is also set to attract a large number of visitors - especially for the inaugural World Open Learning Awards gala dinner on October 4.
Awards
According to Emily Brown, of WOLCE organisers Venture Marketing Group: "The search is on for the best bespoke and generic open learning programmes of the past year. There are also awards available for the new learner and learning resource manager of the year, along with a special award for 'outstanding contribution to the open learning industry'.
Highlights
This year, there are two major attractions at WOLCE, in addition to the conference and exhibition. Visitors to WOLCE will have free access to a series of demonstrations of new open learning materials and approaches, which will be given throughout the entire two days of the event.
In addition, those who are looking to share best practice can do so at the Network Cafe. At the cafe, entrance to which is free, people can meet in a relaxed and informal atimosphere to discuss open learning-related topics.
Entries for the World Open Learning Awards, which are being made in association with the British Association for Open Learning (BAOL), must be received by Venture Marketing Group by July 31st.
For more information call Deborah Sibthorpe on:
020 8394 5264or visit www.distancelearning.co.uk
Streams
This year's conference contains three streams: online learning; effective implementation of open learning; and challenges for training and development.
Keynote addresses will be presented by Canadian corporate development expert Ian Rose, as well as by Dr Anne Wright, of the University for Industry and Dr Paul Taylor, of the University of Salford. There are also two interactive seminars: one on employability issues for training and development managers, while the other examines how open learning practitioners can groom themselves for the boardroom.
Exhibits
Among the attractions at the WOLCE exhibition will be the launch of the first DVD-based open learning programmes - both by Video Arts and multimedia producers TADS. Also exhibiting at WOLCE is blueU, which provides organisations and individuals with a one-stop shop for their training needs via the Internet and which in April this year, was named by IT Training magazine as one of the 'five best sites for e-learning'. The other sites included those of fellow WOLCE exhibitors KnowledgePool, NETg and SmartForce.
For more information about WOLCE 2000
contact Olivia Loxham on:
020 8394 5131
or visit
www.distancelearning.co.uk
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