The European Union's Leonardo project MeC MAP (Multi Cultural e-Learning Competencies Map) was conceived to address the wider learning needs of an enlarged Europe by highlighting the potential contribution of e-learning to vocational training. Both employers and employees in small firms will increasingly have to integrate their own working practices within a broader more global context, within which cultural diversity in the workplace is acknowledged and supported. The project is particularly timely for those workers from new entrant countries to the EU for whom employment in other parts of Europe will open up fresh cultural challenges. MeC MAP addresses the following objectives of the Leonardo programme: to improve the skills and competences of people, to improve the quality of, and access to, continuing vocational training, and to promote and reinforce the contribution of vocational training to the process of innovation. It responds to the particular priority of exploring the potential of new forms of learning and teaching and basic skills in vocational and educational training, and to the thematic actions of quality and inter- cultural dialogue. Its broad target audience is anticipated to include e-learning and web developers, training co-ordinators and public administrators, as well as many interested organisations large and small in the private sector. MeC MAP comprises a partnership of five European nations: the United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal, Slovakia and Finland. The wide range of partner organisations committed to multicultural e-learning include a small e-learning consultancy, a university research unit, a private sector language trainining company, innovative computer systems developers, a national teacher training agency and a trades union of adult educators. The MeC MAP project aims to produce a study on the multi-cultural context of e-learning provision to small businesses, which will be underpinned by the establishment of four databases, accessible online: ¨ The collation and analysis of elearning project results and initiatives that have addressed multi-cultural aspects, particularly in small businesses. This includes case studies for illustration and good practice purposes;¨ A European 'roadmap' of organisations/agencies key to the introduction and raising of multi-lingual and multi-cultural e-learning competencies and standards, together with a description of current and relevant national or regional policies and priorities;¨ A common framework of reference for the competences and qualifications of vocational teachers, trainers and technical specialist trainers working with small businesses in a multi- cultural context;¨ A resource pool of guides and reference material useful to trainers and developers working in a multi-cultural elearning context.In addition the project will aim to visualise European multicultural e-learning contexts through the interrogation of social databases, and the utilisation of geographical information system software addressing themes such as social exclusion and digital divide in workbased learning.Of particular European interest within the project is the development of an analytical rationale including a range of definitions of multiculturalism in which to locate the various resources under compilation within the MeC MAP databases. The paper will highlight derivation of the framework to assess and allocate resources according to their transnational content and their contribution to the e-learning resource base.