Press Release - International experts share their experiences at the Personal Learning Europe Conference in Cologne, Oct 2010. Globally positioned companies, but also medium sized international enterprises face special challenges concerning further training and qualification of their employees. They have to implement learning concepts at different locations and integrate them into the local cultural context.

1. Press Release
No. 2, 10 August, 2010
Professional Learning Europe Professional Learning Europe
(PLE)
European Professional Congress
Local Implementation of Global Learning Strategies on E-Learning, Knowledge
Management and Human Resource
Development
International experts share their experiences at the congress “Professional Koelnmesse, October 12-14, 2010
Learning Europe” www.professional-learning.de
Globally positioned companies, but also medium sized international Contact:
Bettina Wallbrecht
enterprises face special challenges concerning further training and Phone +49 621 700 19-27
qualification of their employees. They have to implement learning Fax +49 621 700 19-19
concepts at different locations and integrate them into the local cultural E-Mail b.wallbrecht@messe.org
context. Strategies that have already proven to be successful in practice
will be presented by international speakers at the Global Learning Track
of “Professional Learning Europe”, a Congress which takes place at the
same time and venue as the HR Management Exhibition “HRM Expo” from
October 12-14th in Cologne.
“Professional training does not stop at borders, and this is even more accurate
for web-based learning” says Armin Hopp, CEO of Digital Publishing AG and
member of the advisory board of “Professional Learning Europe” (PLE). In
cooperation with Thomas Jenewein, who manages strategic education projects
and new media at SAP AG, Hopp has selected the speakers for one section of
the Global Learning Track. The goal of that section is to show how companies
plan and implement global HR development and training programs, taking into
account the local learning culture and the right balance of standards, methods
and tools.
“We think it is very important to include different aspects and challenges of
learning in global companies and had that in mind when working on the
conference program”, explains Thomas Jenewein. “The speakers we decided to
invite for these sessions, work on the balance between local and global
requirements of learning programs, the best mix of methods for teambuilding in
virtual teams and the use of e-learning and blended learning in industrial
production.”
Another topic on the agenda is how to win the commitment of the senior
management and get the necessary budget for sustainable qualification
programs. And of course there will be the issue of learning in teams with
different cultural backgrounds. “We are very happy to have an expert for
intercultural learning such as Prof. Dr. Hora Tjitra from China. He will show us spring Messe Management
how companies can develop intercultural competences and the sensitivity of GmbH & Co. KG
their employees in order to make their global business more effective”, says Güterhallenstraße 18a
68159 Mannheim
Jenewein. Germany
Phone +49 621 700 19-0
Innovative Learning Design and New Learning Technologies Fax +49 621 700 19-511
info@messe.org
“The moment of truth has arrived for learning technologies”, states Dr. Richard www.messe.org
Straub, General Secretary of the European Learning Industry Group (ELIG) and
Board Member of the European Foundation for Management Development
(EFMD). According to Straub, there have been many futuristic visions over the
years, but broad acceptance of Learning Technologies has lagged behind

2. almost all expectations. Straub will moderate a panel discussion on this topic
during the second day of the conference at the international track of the PLE.
Nonetheless, Straub still thinks that the recent need to learn in faster cycles,
added to growing technological progress, new user interfaces and a greater
general acceptance of technology especially among the younger generation,
has brought an important change in the situation. Working and learning
processes are linked in multiple ways and most of the times they take place with
virtual teams. All this calls for support by new cooperation and learning
techniques. “The PLE focuses on innovation and transformation. Rather than
visions, we want to find new ways that can create added value for the
companies,” he explains.
“Experts for Learning and Development in companies are confronted with
permanent changes”, confirms Dr. Ilona Diesner from the Swiss Centre for
Innovations in Learning (scil) in St.Gallen. This calls for adequate innovative
learning designs. The session she will moderate on the second day of the
conference will therefore mainly use best practice examples. “In the Global
Learning Session II, we will have very different guest speakers who will present
examples from their regular practice and will share success stories as well as
failures.” The session will be held as a round table so every participant will have
the chance to take something home, explains Diesner.
The top 10 of E-Learning will show Presence in Cologne
The feedback of e-learning professionals about the PLE and the HR-Exhibition
“HRM Expo” is very positive, says Prof. Dr. Uwe Beck. Together with Prof. Dr.
Sabine Seufert and Prof. Dr. Winfried Sommer, he is part of the Advisory Board
of the Professional Learning Europe. “The TOP 10 will all be there, and the
diversity of the e-learning sector is guaranteed by the presence of a large
number of small companies with high-quality approaches. This reassures the
Advisory Board in its goal to build a leading conference for the German
speaking and European region in a joint effort of e-learning providers as well as
users.”
For e-learning expert Armin Hopp, the fact that the Professional Learning
Europe sets an international focus and looks beyond German boarders, “makes
this Congress one of the most exciting events of the past years. I see a great
opportunity to create an event at eye level with those in English-speaking
countries on one of the biggest professional learning markets worldwide.”
To see the complete program overview, please visit www.professional-
learning.de. .
About “Professional Learning Europe”
“Professional Learning Europe”, short PLE, is the new major e-learning event in
Germany. It takes place parallel to the exhibition “HRM Expo” on 12-14 October
and focuses on e-learning, human resource development and knowledge
management in companies and organisations. The fact that it takes place at the
same time and location as Europe’s biggest exhibition for human resource
management allows for multiple synergies. Here, not only experts, but also
interested HR decision makers can meet on an international platform to hear
about the latest developments and exchange experiences.

3. About “HRM Expo”
From 12-14 October, “HRM Expo”, Europe’s biggest professional exhibition on
all aspects related to human resource management, will celebrate its 11th
edition. More than 11.000 HR decision makers from Germany and abroad
visited the 2009 edition to learn about strategies and solutions for their
employees. The fair is especially known for its extensive conference program
on the latest developments in HR management. The topics range from
recruiting and retention to leadership, HR development, legal advice, software
and the future of the work environment.
About spring Messe Management GmbH & Co. KG
spring Messe Management organises professional exhibitions for Human
Resource Management, Industrial Safety, Municipal Economy, IT & Business
Steering, Online-Marketing and Motivation in six countries – Germany, Austria,
Switzerland, Hungary, Russia and Spain. The private fair organiser brings
together interested visitors, experts and providers, and thereby promotes
communication and exchange among the participants. spring’s fairs are a
seismograph for new product trends, ideas and market developments.