E-Learning Challenges in the European Knowledge-Based Society: Romania Case Study

Introduction

The chapter presents the e-learning challenges in the European knowledge-based society in the context of relaunching Lisbon growth and jobs strategy, of the European Lifelong Learning Program 2007 – 2013, and of the 2009 European Year of Innovation and Creativity. The main objectives of the chapter are the awareness of the e-learning role for the success of the European Lifelong Learning Program 2007 – 2013, and for innovation in education as a key challenge in the knowledge-based society. We deal with the conceptual framework for e-learning: the terms used, the broad definition of the concept, the most recent definitions such as the definition of the Commission of the European Communities 2008, the definition of Webopedia Computer Dictionary 2009, the definition of BNET Business Dictionary 2009, the definition of MSN Encarta 2009, proposing also a teaching statement philosophy adapted to the e-learning environment characteristics of teaching. The Chapter also includes discussions on the Romanian case, a case study about understanding the imperative of quality assurance in e-learning. We conclude with a research on a future paradigm: social e-learning, which means setting up a socially inclusive e-learning environment within the European Union context. An important challenge is to direct e-learning to e–inclusion and to understand the interdependencies between e-learning and e-working.