The Training Foundation has appointed Hywel Thomas as its European director.

Based permanently in Brussels, Hywel will be responsible for liaising with the European Institute for e-Learning (EifEL) , the e-Learning Industry Group (eLIG), the European Commission and international partners working with The Training Foundation.

The apppointment is part of a strategy designed to create common standards and a standardised approach to training skills certification across the European Community and beyond.

Hywel has been working with the Training Foundation since 1999, initially managing the roll out of the TAP programme for a major IT Training company in Singapore and more recently moving into Project Manager and Tutor roles for the Certified e-Learning Professional Programme (CeLP).

Speaking of his new appointment Hywel said: "The challenges relating to training and development faced by states across the EU are significant and growing in scale due to rapid globalisation.

"The Training Foundation will undoubtedly have a part to play in ensuring that appropriate assessable, behaviour changing and consistent approaches to trainer and e-learning skills development are adopted throughout the European Community.

"I am very much looking forward to playing a key role in these initiatives as they progress."