Making Southern universities web-enabled: From leapfrogging to antelope jumping

Information and communication technology (ICT) has become a very important factor for national economic growth in Southern (or developing) nations, where a societal history in technology and industrial innovation is missing. Online learning implies a redefinition of traditional education, it connects teachers and students in a less formal way, and it affects the structure as well as the culture of education. In this article we highlight the specific requirements and possible solutions needed to make Southern universities web-enabled. We look at the transinstitutional context, portability of content, the threat of global monoculturalism, and teacher training.