SCIENTER is a research centre and service provider organisation, active in the field of education and training. It is a non-profit making consortium, which was set up in January 1988. Both Italian and other European public and private organisations involved in training systems innovation have joined it.

SCIENTER is interested in innovation of training systems, with main reference to the field of open and distance learning and organisational learning.

It develops research projects at regional, national, and European level in the following areas: training needs analysis; design and development of open and flexible learning systems; organisational learning design and implementation; training of trainers for the use of new methodologies and new technologies; research and selection of learning materials; market analysis in education and training, particularly concerning the use of new technologies and ODL. Its fields of activities are:

• Analysis and assessment of local development as well as training and education policies;
• Training needs and labour market analysis;
• Innovation of training action methodologies, with special reference to actions design, monitoring, documentation and assessment;
• Innovation of training pathways by means of Information and Communication Technologies;

SCIENTER takes action in training and education systems innovation processes, with special reference to the fields of open learning, organization learning, technology transfer education, advanced documentation and data bases, in close co-operation with similar Italian and European public and private organisations.

SCIENTER has three operational offices (Bologna, Italy; Brussels, Belgium; Granada, Spain) and is equipped with a network of 25 researchers and collaborators grouped in 4 Organisation Units:

• Innovation Practices and Market Observatory
• Support to innovation and policy assessment
• Technical Support to innovation process in Education and Training
• Methodological development, training design and trainers' training

The activities that are traditionally carried out by SCIENTER at a European level, especially those provided by the European Observatory on Education and Training Policies and on Education Technologies, are carried out with the contribution by the European Union (Co-funding Principle).

SCIENTER working languages include the five main European languages (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish).

SCIENTER SERVICES AND PRODUCTS:

• Training needs analysis at a local, regional or entrepreneurial level.
• Design and development of open and flexible training systems in different fields: University and Continuing and Professional Education.
• Research, selection and assessment of learning materials.
• Training of trainers for the use of new methodologies and innovative tools.
• Organisational learning design and implementation.
• Project evaluation.
• Assistance in the development and realisation of trans-national projects
• Education and training market analysis
• Information, documentation and research of training systems, labour markets, education and training technologies in Europe.