A scene from the annual assembly meeting

This time was the first time the e-Learning Quality Certification Center (ELQCC )had participated in the EFQUEL annual assembly since becoming a member ; this year a total of 21 members participated. The annual assembly was chaired by EFQUEL Chairman Claudio Dondi. Important EFQUEL matters were reported by the Chairman, Vice Chairman, the Executive Manager, and the Board of Directors. The main points of the reports are as follows:

Description of EFQUEL’s major activities
1. Disseminate and promote awareness of quality in educational settings
2. Tend organizational relationships
3. Promote contacts and communication
4. Integrate information and share results
[center]: Continue to innovate and pursue sustainability
 
EFQUEL Executive Manager Rolf Reinhardt used the metaphor of a flower garden to describe EFQUEL’s activity cycle. From the first stage of sowing the seeds of quality, to the second stage of watering and tending the flowers, to the third stage of growing and fostering them, to the fourth stage of integrating them, he gave a complete encapsulation of EFQUEL’s activities. He touched on the themes of maintaining innovation and pursuing sustainability as the ultimate goals, echoing the main themes of the annual assembly: Inclusivity, Innovation, and Excellence. Since last year, EFQUEL has been actively engaged in Internet marketing, having made substantial revisions to its website. Full details about EFQUEL’s various plans as well as the latest updates are posted there. The general public can also view video records of annual and other major meetings. The website is a rich source of information, providing video content and related material, and if anyone with a question submits an email message, EFQUEL will respond as quickly as possible.

EFQUEL’s home page, with a video of Chairman Claudio Dondi giving his report during the annual assembly
 
In addition to their website, EFQUEL also uses Facebook as a means of public support, and to strengthen EFQUEL’s interaction with the public. EFQUEL uses Facebook to send out conference invitations, solicit opinions from the general public, transmit information, and to post videos and photos of their activities.
 

EFQUEL’s Facebook page

EFQUEL’s financial situation
In the first three years of EFQUEL’s operation it has relied on the support of European Union governments for its funding, and in 2005 it became completely financially independent. There are four major categories of income:   
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1. UNIQUe certification fees: The UNIQUe certification fee is 20,000 euros each time, and so constitute a major part of EFQUEL’s income. But since UNIQUe is not one of this year’s main plans, revenue from this category may decrease as promotion of certification decreases and the number of certification cases goes down.
2. Membership dues from new members: EFQUEL members only need to pay their dues once to become a permanent member. The cost to join is EUR 1000, so to increase revenue here, EFQUEL will need to add new members. 14 new members were added this year (2010 ).
3. EU projects: EFQUEL relies on income from the EU’s Open Educational Quality Initiative (OPAL), and ENGAGE (Game-Based Learning) to pay its personnel costs. Because these costs are EFQUEL’s greatest financial outlay, using EU Project income can lessen the financial pressure on EFQUEL of these personnel costs.
4. EFQUEL annual Innovation Forum seminar registration fees: Last year, the number of participants in EFQUEL’s seminar stood at 80; this year it is about 100. There is a trend for this number to rise each year. The ordinary registration fee is around Euro 400 and registration fees are one of the main sources of income for EFQUEL.
In his report, the EFQUEL Chairman suggested that the gold standard of financial management included: 
Never ever undertake plans independently: cooperating with other units can help spread cost expenditures, and collaborating with other units can result in sharing results and enlarge and extend benefits. 

Use EU project funding to cover personnel expenses: with regard to the number of EU projects undertaken by EFQUEL this year, it is enough to cover the personnel costs for the Executive Manager, researchers, secretaries, and external researchers. Personnel is EFQUEL’s major expense item; the ability to cover personnel expenses using related plan budgets can lessen the financial burden.  
Establish the most stable cash flow possible: EFQUEL is well aware of its financial situation, cash flows are planned as early in the year as possible, implementation processes are continually reviewed, and past financial situations are treated as inherited experience. Cash flow is constantly monitored stable financial planning is becoming more stable.
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EFQUEL planning
The planning focus this year includes the five EU projects CerOrganic, ENGAGE, HEXTLEARN, OPAL, SEVAQ. EFQUEL personnel are involved in each item of planning, seeking to work with member organizations or academic units to cut costs. Each plan has a website and a detailed presentation, and has regular conferences to discuss the pace of work and research results. Many items of discussion in this year’s annual conference became key points in EFQUEL’s planning.
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Election of new board members
During this year’s annual assembly, members voted to elect five board members, including Albert Sangra (Spain), Annemie Boonen (Belgium), Jan Pawlowski (Finland), Miguel Gea (Spain), and Yuri Rubin (Russia). After being decided by vote by 21 members, the above-named five candidates became the new Board of Directors. They are to meet with the EFQUEL regularly to discuss development and financial planning, among other things.

Introduction to the 2010 EFQUEL Innovation Forum
At the end of the general meeting, EFQUEL Vice Chairman Ulf Ehlers outlined the upcoming annual seminar to be held on September 9th, the topics covered, and its method of proceeding, among other things. Members participating in the general meeting could thereby gain an initial idea of the seminar being held the next day.
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  Outcomes of participation
Participation in the seminar and assembly at the EFQUEL Innovation Forum 2010 that took place in Lisbon, Portugal achieved the objectives and also offered the following benefits:.
1. Participation in the major digital learning quality unit lectures and discussions; understanding growing trends in digital learning quality that were treated in the annual meeting; understanding main issues in planning and quality for EFQUEL and its member organizations.
2. By participating in the annual assembly, and through study and discussion, understanding of relevant research undertaken by European countries on quality implementation was obtained so that quality service center research directions can be planned
3. Gained a deeper understanding of the “Quality Center Location and Mode of Operation”. The experience of the European Foundation for Quality in E-Learning will be an important reference point for the future independent operation of the quality service center.