Description: In this Work in Progress paper the author briefly places the work of the NETTLE thematic network in the broader context of developments inspired by the Bologna Declaration(2003)1, before presenting the results and implications of the work so far. Major outputs of the project are frameworks and guiding principles for Initial Entry and Continuing Professional Development, and the first draft of these will be presented. Methodology: Established in January 2005, with partners from higher education and related institutions in most European countries, NETTLE has a three year work plan covering the collection and synthesis of information from across Europe, culminating in the evolution and dissemination of frameworks and guiding principles. These will include descriptors of content, learning objectives and outcomes, delivery methods, pedagogic and technical infrastructure requirements and quality assurance processes.NETTLE directly contributes to action lines 3 to 7 of the Bologna declaration. Overall it contributes to the development of a European Higher Education area ( Bologna, Action line 9) through supporting the development of teaching staff educational skills, and their potential for movement between institutions and countries.Based on paper and internet research, the project team scoped the main areas of activity using MindMaps. This was followed by the collaborative development of an extensive questionnaire for obtaining information on the range and organisation of activities, in Initial Entry and Continuing Professional educational development. The questions were predominantly open-ended, and the anticipated variability in results led to a second questionnaire. This predominantly utilises closed and checklist items, to refine information on areas of ambiguity, and will also extend coverage to a wider geographical area. Mixed methods of analysis(ie Tashakkori and Teddlie 1998) will be used with the combined results to clarify the trends and clusters coming out of the initial results, and to provide a basis for developing the reference frameworks. These in turn will go through cycles of consultation and refinement in order to make them as widely relevant to Europeans as possible. Conclusions: The results will be published as Commentaries with both subject and regional comparisons and trends. Major outputs will be the Reference Frameworks and Guiding Principles for educational development. It is anticipated these will contain recommendations for generic elements, but be sufficiently flexible for adoption by institutions for their own context. The frameworks will include information on implementation scenarios, along with case studies examples. A final outcome of NETTLE will be suggestions for the elements of a strategy to take forward and sustain the development of professional educator skills across Europe.