So far researchers’ cooperation with enterprises (or with workplace learning partnerships) has been based on a) separate research-based analyses (e.g. on training needs and appropriate learning arrangements) that are used as experts’ advice for practitioners or b) particular research-related tools that can be transferred into customised developmental tools to be used by enterprises (or by workplace learning partnerships) or c) particular educational know-how (e.g. regarding e-learning and use of Web 2.0 applications to support workplace learning). Recent efforts to develop university-enterprise cooperation (in particular with a focus on promoting workplace learning) indicate that stand-alone measures are not enough. Instead, there is a need to consider the combined effect of different research-based approaches. Furthermore, there is a need to consider, how the contributions of researchers could be linked to each other via integrative project designs. From the enterprises’ point of view there is a need to consider the company-specific usability of research-based analyses, research-related tools and the use of research-grounded educational know-how. Currently this consideration is linked to the question, how the enterprises can best utilise educational services for workplace learning and what kind of partnership arrangements they can rely upon. The round table explores the role of research designs, the researchers’ contributions to workplace-oriented educational services and to partnership cooperation on the basis of the following brief presentations: Presentation 1: Development of workplace learning partnerships and the role of research in promoting such cooperation – German and European experiences by Pekka Kämäräinen Presentation 2: Making use of research-related tools in developing partnership cooperation and workplace learning – Capitalisation of the toolboxes of recent European projects by Ludger Deitmer Presentation 3: Linking research-related tools to fieldwork that supports workplace learning (the case of Norwegian shipyards) by Ronny Sannerud and Arne Roar Lien Presentation 4: Linking web-supported learning and use of Web 2.0 applications to the development of workplace learning by Graham Attwell. The Round Table continues a tradition of ECER round tables or research workshops that have focused on ‘Action research' and a VET framework of innovation’ (ECER 2004), ‘Action research for regional development’ (ECER 2004) and on project-specific issues on workplace learning partnerships (ECER 2006) or on launching new cooperation initiatives with the support of Web 2.0 applications (ECER 2007).

The Round Table is based on a) Accompanying research attached to German and European projects (presentation 1), b) evaluation tools used in accompanying research projects and programmes (presentation 2), c) introduction of research-based tools in a new action-oriented research and deelopment project (presentation 3), d) accompanying research related to the use of ICT and to development of web-based tools to support workplace learning (presentation 4).

In the Round Table at ECER 2008 the aim is to explore more closely the complementary relations between the multiple roles of accompanying research (presentation 1), the integration of research-based evaluation tools (presentation 2), bringing research cooperation to the field (presentation 3) and supporting workplace learning and partnerships with Web 2.0 approaches (presentation 4).