EFMD CEL

EFMD – the European Foundation for Management Development - manages the CEL programme accreditation for teChnology-Enhanced Learning, which aims to raise the standard of ICT-based learning management programmes worldwide. EFMD CEL aims to facilitate standard setting, benchmarking, mutual learning, and the dissemination of good practice. It allows for different approaches and diversity in designing and implementing such programmes. EFMD CEL is directed towards educational management programmes incorporating ICT-based learning.

Two aspects characterise the uniqueness of EFMD CEL: (1) EFMD CEL focuses on programmes in management education and not just on technology or learning software products. Learners’ experiences of ICT-based programmes are given significant importance. (2) The EFMD CEL quality framework represents a comprehensive system of relevant factors based on substantial research.

EFMD CEL is founded on a set of research-based criteria that are grouped into the following categories:

• Programme Strategy takes up questions like: Are the main characteristics of the programme transparent for all interested parties? What (added) value does the programme provide especially by integrating technology-enhanced learning components?

• Pedagogy covers all aspects of the learning and teaching process and addresses questions such as: What type of learning environments does the programme consist of? What is the (added) value of the learning processes supported by technology?

• Economics involves all facets related to efficiency in the use of resources. The main question is: Are the resources in terms of funds and competencies efficiently used?

• Organisation deals with the question: Are the organisational measures in running the programme adequate to meet the programme’s underlying objectives?

• Technology addresses the question: Is the functionality of the technology implemented adequately to meet the programme’s underlying objectives?

• Culture is concerned with: Are the cultural factors of change and innovation considered adequately?

These categories form a global view on quality development within technology-enhanced programmes. All are backed by concrete criteria, each of which is part of a coherent system.

An introductory guide on EFMD CEL and other support documentation can be found at the EFMD website: http://www.efmd.org/index.php/accreditation-main/cel/cel-guides.  

Status

EFMD helps its members with continuous quality improvement through different accreditation schemes. EFMD accreditation involves self-assessment and peer reviews under established quality frameworks that have been designed to deal with the very diverse approaches to management education and development that exist around the world. CEL is one of the quality services/accreditation schemes that is offered by EFMD. So far 11 technology-enhanced learning programmes have received CEL accreditation.