EDEN in 2021 was the most comprehensive open-distance-digital learning innovation Association in Europe. We celebrated our 30th Anniversary and have been present since 1991 on the international scene with legal headquarters in the UK, Milton Keynes.

As the United Kingdom has left the European Union (Brexit), serious barriers emerged for EDEN’s international cooperation mission. There has been a process to transform and continue the achievements, and activities of EDEN UK into a new, sustainable entity in an EU country.

EDEN Europe started its activities with organization building and professional development.

In the spirit of sustainability of the past 30 years’ successes of EDEN, an agreement was signed between the two EDEN Associations to ensure the dynamics and continuity for EDEN Europe.

Members of the European professional community are encouraged to
join EDEN Digital Learning Europe and help to continue the legacy of EDEN.

EDEN UK will close down its activities in 2023
and the Executive Committee proposes the dissolution of the Association.

We thank the many thousands of excellent professionals, EDEN members, Officers, Fellows, Peers, Partners, and Conference delegates who have been companions in the last three decades on the road of European modernization in education.

EDEN shares sadly the news from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics that Prof. Tamas Lajos passed away.

Professor Lajos was one of the three emblematic persons who founded the European Distance and E-Learning Network in 1991. A former EDEN President, a bright international flagship thinker in European education modernization and university education, in open, distance and e-learning.

EDEN will gratefully keep his memory and intellectual legacy and pays tribute to his family.

The EDEN Executive Committee is delighted and proud to announce that the Jury for the ICDE Prizes of Excellence 2021 has decided to award EDEN for:

ICDE Prize of Excellence: The Institutional Prize

officially announced by ICDE during the Closing Session of the ICDE Virtual Global Conference Week October 2021

EDEN thanks to all its members and partners for their support and co-operation in this great achievement!

INSTITUTIONAL PRIZE OF EXCELLENCE
LAUDATION

EDEN is Europe’s leading professional association in the enhancement of open, flexible and distance learning. EDEN’s current membership from more than 50 countries includes 145 institutional members, 322 individual members and more than 1000 members of their Network of Academics and Professionals.

The ICDE Prize of Excellence Institutional Prize is awarded to an institution, an association or a network of institutions for very significant achievements or contributions to the international community of open, flexible and distance education during the past five years. EDEN is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary, and has a longstanding record of leadership, innovation and service to the educational community dating back over three decades.

In service of its members, and the sector at large, EDEN hosts a range of regular events, including a major Annual Conference, an Open Classroom Conference, a prestigious Research Workshop, and a high-profile PhD Symposium. EDEN also hosts a comprehensive range of webinars and virtual events, which are well supported by members and attract participants and partners from around the globe.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, EDEN has hosted numerous online events to help support the education sector. Its leadership role during the COVID crisis has been truly exceptional with an outstanding contribution to building resilience and helping to maintain continuity during such challenging times. In March 2020, EDEN’s #onlinetogether free webinar initiative proved evidence of an immediate response to the crisis to support the education community worldwide and provide practice-oriented advice to those faced with the challenges of having to rapidly pivot to online teaching and learning.

ICDE commends EDEN for its remarkable contribution to the international community of open, flexible and distance learning, as well as its 30 years of continuous leadership and sustained outreach to the European and global education community.