While all eyes – on this side of the English Channel at least – are on the Learning Technologies event, in London’s Olympia (25/26 January), there are some important learning technologies related events about to take place in mainland Europe too. Karlsruhe in Germany is, once again, the setting for Learntec (31 January to 2 February), while Espace Champerret in central Paris is set to make its debut as the venue for the iLearning Forum Paris (31 January and 1 February).

A number of learning technologies providers – notably eXact learning solutions (see ‘New XML DITA editor on show in London and Karlsruhe’ below) – have got into the habit of launching new products in London and then again, a few days later, in Karlsruhe.

Up to now, the event in Paris, which is in its 12^th year and is France’s leading learning technologies event, hasn’t figured in the ‘product launch schedule’ – perhaps because of its clash, on dates, with Learntec in Germany. This year, the conference at the iLearning Forum Paris, covers open source platforms; serious games; simulations; interactive instructional design; content development tools; mobile learning; the latest learning technologies and social networks in learning. In addition, thanks to goFLUENT’s CEO, Christophe Ferrandou, delegates will also be considering the ROI of blended learning.

According to Ferrandou: “We help our clients determine the ROI of the blended learning that comes from goFLUENT’s e-learning platform, customised content, written coaching and telephone lessons. We believe that all of these combine to provide a consistent and efficient learning experience to help students improve their business English skills.

“Owing to their innovative nature and enterprise-wide – often global – scope, many blended learning programmes become highly ‘visible’ to those in the Boardroom,” he continued. “Typically, learning programmes support overall learning strategies which, in turn, are aimed at achieving business goals – so it’s perfectly understandable that organisations should try to measure these programmes’ ROI.”

Ferrandou, the only Frenchman in the recently published list of the top ten ‘movers and shakers’ in European e-learning, believes that, in trying determine the ROI of a learning project, people tend to focus on costs rather than results. He said: “That’s because it’s easier to do so! Yet, assessing results is not only fairer, it’s also more closely allied to the organisation’s goals.”

Ferrandou added that, in order to define a learning programme’s net benefits, you must set some goals, define an evaluation framework and – only then – do the ROI calculations. He observed: “Setting goals is key not only to measuring ROI but also to engage learners and their managers.”

Comment: France’s learning technologies sector – and, thus, key trade event – may not be as well known internationally as those in Germany and the UK but, according to figures from Learning Light’s research into e-learning throughout Europe in 2010, France has Europe’s second largest learning technologies sector. While the UK’s e-learning industry turned over some £472m in 2010, France’s e-learning industry turned over £375m and Germany’s a mere £242m. Undoubtedly, a large proportion of those making major contributions to all three countries’ learning technologies turnover will be in evidence at these events in London, Paris and Karlsruhe.