Europortfolio will fill a substantial gap of current ePortfolio policy and practice. It will generate the first consolidated ePortfolio inventory of its kind in Europe and contribute to transfers of innovation across regional, institutional and sectoral boundaries, encompassed by a set of policy support documents that currently do not exist (green papers, accreditation framework, Maturity Matrix, etc.). This will add new momentum to research, policy and educational practice within EU-27 countries.
Impact will be developed for four target groups:
1st group: EPortfolio experts
They will become members of the network and have a practical interest. They will particularly benefit from the ePortfolio inventory, and contacts with other experts. Europortfolio will help in:
- getting a better insight into current ePortfolio practice in Europe
- creating research partnerships with other experts
- exchanging knowledge and experience as well as discuss about emerging trends and streams in ePortfolios
- publish their own findings and provide consultations
2nd group: EPortfolio practitioners
They will become members of the network and have a practical interest. They will particularly benefit from the ePortfolio inventory, the maturity matrix, online questionnaires for self-assessment, lessons learned, open educational resources and white papers. Europortfolio will help in:
- developing evidence-based strategies of effective practice and consistent management
- achieving better returns of investment (in terms of educational outcomes, efficiency and efficacy)
- having ubiquitous access to the European Status Quo of ePortfolio practice, key findings and evidence
- benefiting from knowledge of early adopters of ePortfolio initiatives (experts)
- creating internal networks and peer groups that can enhance further collaboration and multiplication of the initiatives
- developing new ePortfolio projects and initiatives.
3rd group: Policy makers and authorities
We will work directly with policy makers from EU-27 countries to access their local/regional and national (policy and educational) knowledge for the benefit of this project as well as to transfer and exploit our results. This target group will particularly benefit from the ePortfolio framework, green and white papers, etc. Europortfolio will particularly contribute to:
- promoting innovation in education as well as practices of reflective learning
- developing a mutual understanding of ePortfolio practice within EU-27 countries
- supporting strategies towards competency recognition and accreditation in LLL.
4th group: Global ePortfolio Community
Additionally, our links to researchers, policy experts and practitioners outside of Europe, e.g. Australia, Canada and USA, will be exploited. Inter/Nation Coalition of Eportfolios across USA and Australia will reference Europortfolio and disseminate information about European ePortfolio network thus expanding the European ePortfolio vision and enabling new, worldwide partnerships.
