Leading article: Virtual promise

The UK e-University (UKeU) may have failed to attract any students, but local initiatives by small groups of universities are expected to be more successful. A consortium of 10 universities, spearheaded by Strathclyde, plans to establish a virtual university for people in the Middle East. Aimed at Palestinians and others who cannot easily get access to higher education, it will be a useful experiment in how to set up an e-university slowly over time, using the expertise of local institutions and testing the local market by putting on one degree at a time.

The UK e-University (UKeU) may have failed to attract any students, but local initiatives by small groups of universities are expected to be more successful. A consortium of 10 universities, spearheaded by Strathclyde, plans to establish a virtual university for people in the Middle East. Aimed at Palestinians and others who cannot easily get access to higher education, it will be a useful experiment in how to set up an e-university slowly over time, using the expertise of local institutions and testing the local market by putting on one degree at a time.