Benchmarking Lifelong Learning andeLearning in Regions: Measuring WhatReally Counts

Engaging the entire EU population in lifelong learning has emerged as akey policy goal in recent years. While it is clear that ICT-enabled eLearning cancontribute considerably to reaching this objective, much of the public debate aboutthe issue has failed to explore whether the advantages of eLearning will be sufficientto overcome those barriers which are most important for keeping participation inadult education low. This paper suggests that policy needs to take full account offactors related to access, competence and motivation when devising strategies forfostering eLearning. It reports from the findings of a major European populationsurvey which analysed in a holistic way the role of user orientation in determiningtake-up of online services of public interest, including eLearning.