A survey of learning technologies in the voluntary sector – encompassing over 80 charities, representing more than 50,000 staff and volunteers – has found that:

• The top four benefits of adopting learning technologies are: improving flexibility of learning; improving access to learning; cutting costs and increasing reach.
• Over 66% of participants are looking for their investment in learning technologies to help increase staff retention; improve training quality; increase the number of qualified staff; enhance the induction process; reduce time spent learning; and improve administration efficiency.
• Improving learning delivery and its impact is more important than just finding a ‘cheaper option’ when it comes to employing learning technologies.

The survey, carried out by e-learning analysts Towards Maturity in partnership with the Charity Learning Consortium (CLC) is available at: http://www.charitylearning.org/benchmark

Comment: There’s nothing particularly ‘earth-shattering’ in these findings – although there would have been if the survey hadn’t revealed these things. However, it’s nice to see that the voluntary sector is beginning to wake up to the advantages of ‘learning technologies’ (otherwise known as e-learning systems and content) and so follow the leading of all the other sectors in the economy.