LLinE Lifelong Learning in Europe

Holger Bienzle abstract

The art of managing networks - is network management an art?

Inter-organisational and personal social networks play an increasingly prominent role in the area of lifelong learning in Europe. The notion of network(ing) has been postulated as a guiding principle and a key competence of practitioners at all levels of hierarchy. Networks and networking are generally considered to have high potential for solving structural problems in education.

In contrast to this growing importance, actors in the field agree that many networks have been performing below the high expectations hoped for. One of the reasons for this is the organisational fragility of many network structures. Another factor seems to be that many network actors do not have a sufficiently clear picture of the concept of a network as a specific cooperation structure. A network differs from cooperation projects and other forms of partnerships in terms of structure and function.

As a consequence of these differences building and sustaining a network poses specific challenges to a network manager.

The presentation focuses on a particular type of network: European networks in the framework of the EU funding programmes for lifelong learning. But much of its content is relevant also for other types of networks in education and training and for networking activities in related fields.