The ESLN project aims to build a network of school leaders who are interested in actively examine their job and their own professional development from a distinctive European perspective. To this end, a three module online course was developed which 130 school leaders took part in over a period of three years. Attached to the three modules where three working conferences held in Stavanger, Norway 2004, Budapest Hungary 2005, and Fuiggi Italy 2006. The course materials are also available on a CD, developed by Anne Gilleran, which was launched during the Conference in Rome.

During his opening speech, Dr Burkhard Mielke, President of Esha, spoke at length about the important of the ideals of the ESLN project in the professional development of future school leaders in Europe. ‘When we accept the moral dimension of Educational leadership and understand professional learning and development, it is implicit that we need change in many fields to develop leadership in education for a new European society.’

There were also several workshops on the ESLN project. Anne Gilleran and Nelly Guet gave a workshop on the future perspectives of the ESLN project, while other members of the consortium also ran workshops, Dr. Maria Szabo and Bosse Andersson, Henk Jassen and Rinnie Van De Horst, John West-Burnham and Petros Pashiardis.  John West Burnham also gave a keynote speech on the implications and responsibilities of being a school leader in present day Europe.

At the close of the conference the CD was officially handed over to ESHA and again Dr Mielke outline the future development of the project;
“However, this project is too precious to be laid ad acta after Rome. We can ascertain that ESLN is a highly successful pilot project. We now have to plan the future of this project:
In addition to the online version we made the necessary changes that allow for the use of the materials as an online course for self study or the use in institutes.

We decided to develop three new modules to complete the course:

• Module 4: Creating the Learning Centred School
• Module 5: Education Leadership and the Community
• Module 6: Educational Leadership in a Changing Europe.’

Dr Burkhard Mielke also said that ESHA’s aim was to find funds for the translation of the materials and to pursue the placement of the course into national professional development courses for school heads.