Frequently asked questions about the ELAP Network

What is the ELAP Network?

The European Learning Account Partners (ELAP) Network is a network of representatives from countries and organisations within the European Union and beyond who are interested in developing and testing mechanisms that encourage adults to participate in learning and enable the costs of that learning to be shared by interested parties such as individuals, employers, government and social partners.

Why was the Network set up?

The Network was originally set up in 1999 by the then UK Department for Education and Employment (now Department for Education & Skills).  The UK was in the process of developing its Individual Learning Account (ILA) initiative and was interested to know what other countries were doing in this area.  It was soon clear that the Network met a need.  There were a number off countries interested in developing learning account type mechanisms and keen work together to share information and good practice on a wide range of policy and operational issues.  The number of partners is growing all the time and comprises representatives from both national and regional governments, an employer, and independent institutes and organisations interested in the enagaging in a practical way with the debate about financing lifelong learning. 

How is the Network funded?

Currently the Network is managed and funded by the National Learning and Skills Council in England (www.lsc.gov.uk)

What is unique about the ELAP Network?

The ELAP partners represent a wide mix of organisations and government departments, with many of them involved in developing and piloting co-financing mechanisms to meet national objectives, the results of these very practical experiments are able to influence policy development from a grass roots level.

Why is it called the European Learning Account Partners (ELAP) Network?

Many of the partners are finding that the idea of an individually owned 'account' is helpful in encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their own learning, the choices they make and how that learning is paid for.  Some of the mechanisms being developed are virtual accounts and use vouchers or entitlements to subsidise learning, others are closer to actual financial accounts, which enable financial contributions from other sources to be levered in and other systems are incorporating tax benefits for both individuals and their employers.

Close co-operation with the OECD on a project to identify and evaluate mechanisms to co-finance lifelong learning has led to the Network widening its interest in terms of the types of  'accounts' which might be developed to include time accounts, tax incentives and mechanisms which allow for both saving and borrowing for learning and it is clear that for many  countries 'learning accoun't type mechanisms are part of a wider a debate about the whole issue of who should pay for lifelong learning.

Recently, Network partners agreed that the original name of ELAP should be retained and that partners from outside Europe would be welcome to join, subject to signing up to the ELAP Network Working Agreement (see Papers and Documents)

What are the benefits of joining the Network?

There are very practical benefits to be derived from being a partner in the Network, such as:

• sharing information and ideas about developing and implementing co-financing  mechanisms
• seeking solutions to specific operational issues e.g. what works and what doesn't work and how to avoid problems
• calling on the skills and experience of other partners to assist in setting up and managing co-financing mechanisms
• exchanging information on examples of good practice

In addition, the Network provides the opportunity to consider the wider implications of developing policy to introduce co-financing lifelong learning and to contribute to the development of thinking and research in this area.

How do you become a partner in the Network?

Application, in the first instance is to the Network Director, followed by completion of the Network Working Agreement (see Papers and Documents) which outlines the obligations of the partners.