Open-Source in Education - Links and Resources

The Sakai consortium of US universities and the OKI and JASIG standards bodies have revealed more detailed plans for the open source, standard compliant Managed Learning Environment (MLE) that they are building. Most notable is a partner programme by which organisations other than the founding members can join in, and get support- for a fee.

Author Name: Wilbert Kraan

CONSEN European Economic Interest Group (EEIG)

CONSEN (EEIG) is a European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG), an alliance of, at the moment, three European companies who have agreed to act in partnership to secure and operate contract throughout Europe.

These three companies more one Associated are all the largest privately owned building support services organizations in their respective countries, and, through the EEIG, are able to operate contracts in all countries in Europe.

The Companies who make up CONSEN (EEIG) are MUFICATA, THINK-WISE and PER-SCITUM, more ALT-FACTOR as associated.

Each company has a similar structure and philosophy, and are able to cover most of Europe, through direct operations or subsidiary companies and interests.

The main objective of the CONSEN (EEIG) is to establish an ongoing and effective dialogue between CONSEN partners focused on the IST Research, Development and Innovation project proposals financed by the European Commission.

CONSEN is a non-profit organization. This reflects CONSEN partner’s commitment to maximize the Socio-Economic benefits of CONSEN activities.

The CONSEN (EEIG)s bridge acts as extension of the company internal organization, fostering cooperation and the transfer of technology and knowledge for pumping systemic innovation and reach the local and sectoral leadership.

CONSEN's mission is pomping innovation from the scintific world to companies, small and micro size specially. CONSEN facilitate them to acquire and put into practice new technologies, cooperate with research institutes to develop systems and application in response to industrial demand of creation of new markets, new business models and new profit centers.

The Key-Concept is to consider CONSEN (EEIG) as an EUROPEAN CLUSTER. The CONSEN cluster built with the clustering methodologies and best practices of our partners. This CONSEN IST Cluster concerns the OPEN SOURCE philosophy, technology, business and innovation, which is, by definition, an open door to the cooperation, to the partnership and so to the clustering.

CONSEN is a registered entity established to enable integration of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Industries and Organizations (SMEIO's) within European Information Society Technologies (IST) projects. CONSEN (EEIG) was formed under the Council Regulation (EEC) No 2137/85 of 25 July 1985 on the European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG). It is currently offering IST-firms and organizations a cooperative European Information environment directly attached to the Community legal order, participating in public contracts and programs COM(97) 434 final, Official Journal C 285, 20.09.1997.

CONSEN (EEIG) is accredited to work in each of the 25 EU states thereby benefiting from the support of regional and national community authorities. By pooling resources, activities and skills CONSEN offers partners a unique opportunity to optimize their experience and benefits.

As a group CONSEN represents a larger entity with collective revenues and complementary attributes. Consequently CONSEN can undertake negotiations with contractors and facilitate European IST projects and tenders. Results can be expected to reflect the benefits of cross national and community synergism. Income derived from CONSEN programs and projects will be apportioned among members for reinvestment in thematic innovation, enhancement of community services and optimizing results of common activities.

CONSEN‘s goals include converting Research, Technological Development and Innovation (RTD+I) actions to marketable products and services for community benefit. Hopefully these will have sustainable results and will promote transferable business opportunities. Such results will depend on the partners IST competencies, sharing resources, participation of committed constituencies throughout Europe and partners individual efforts. This will enable CONSEN to provide maximum socio-economic impact and create benefit for its members.

Although not profit motivated CONSEN activities will elicit added value to the members and their communities from joint research. Strategically by collaboration, integration and networking of the participating partners CONSEN will create a more powerful, cooperative and competitive Europe.

The initial groundwork of establishing CONSEN is completed. The last General Assembly was held during the IST-2004 event in Le Hague (November 2004).

Current activities are now focused on establishing a collaboration framework, engagement of new partners from different countries and formalizing commitments.

Two Specific support Action (SSA) projects promoted by CONSEN EU2FOSS and Accessibility2info were recently presented for the EU-FP6 IST-3 call.

CONSEN (EEIG) is an eligible partner for international activities outside the European sphere of activities. Suitable organizations and companies are welcome to communicate and associate with CONSEN activities.

CONSEN (EEIG) is a international, independent, non-political and non-profit organization opened for all Information Society entrepreneurs, experts, consultants, small organizations and companies who wish to create business and innovation within the IST market by research and technological development activities in a European level.

This is a very interesting site discussed during a meeting in Bremen.

Author Name: Graham Attwell