This book will help academics from all disciplines take full advantage of IT. Anticipating a future in which distance learning and virtual reality tutoring systems play a central role in university teaching, Roy Rada provides guidelines for making best use of the technological opportunities. The chapters cover: * distance learning for individual students * groups in classrooms focusing on interactive technology * the university as a whole * emerging market forces in Higher Education and training for industry Unlike other books that focus on specific aspects of the subject, Understanding Virtual Universities combines managerial, social and technical issues, to provide a comprehensive approach to Information Technology for Higher Education.