COMPETENCY-BASED TRAINING IN SMES: THE ROLE OF E-LEARNING AND E-COMPETENCE

In this paper, we examine the training situation of EuropeanSmall and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), especially inregard to e-learning. While e-learning has been widelypresented as the solution for the training needs of SMEs,analyses of the real situation show quite another picture.Some of these analyses are results of the project ARIEL –Analyzing and Reporting the Implementation ofElectronic Learning in Europe (www.ariel-eu.net). ARIELwas an international joint project (2004-2005) funded bythe European Commission in the framework of its elearningInitiative. In the final section of the paper, wepropose Competency-Based Training (CbT) as asystematic approach and thus as a possible solution forimproving learning processes in SMEs and presentconclusions on the challenges to be met in vocational andfurther training in SMEs.