Describing e-Learning Development in European Higher Education Institutions using a Balanced Scorecard

This paper has strong links with the European Commission's statement on the "eLearning: designing tomorrow's education" initiative, adopted on 24 May 2000. It tackles the question of how Higher Education Institutions (HEI) follow the development of and manage their e-Learning activities? This emerged in work package n° 3 of the eLene-EE project (Economics of e-Learning, 2006-2007), which examines the economic models of e-Learning. With the help of a Balanced Scorecard (BSc), designed by e-Learning practioners, and researchers in economy and management, the e-Learning development of European institutions is described over a three-year period (2004-06). Using four main dimensions: Financial, Customers/Students, Internal Business Process and Learning/Growth, the BSc shows what is prioritized and how HEI act? Four examples, from Lublin (on behalf of the Polish Virtual University), from Milan via the Centro METID of the Politecnico di Milano, from the Universities of Nancy and Nice Sophia Antipolis, show different stages of development, different strategic choices and underline common aspects that could be used to inform e-Learning evolution models in European HEI. Although this approach is focused on information in the HEI management field, it suggests first the need for more research and the necessity of developing theoretical tools to conceptualize trajectories of development; second, the need for BSc to be extended to all areas of HEI in order to promote coherency among Student Education, Research, Continuing Education and e-Learning.