Universities worldwide are faced with enormous challenge s as they decide on how the rapid changes in technology and the widespread availability of the Internet will impact upon their modes of operation. Many universities have embraced the challenge with enthusiasm totally restructuring their curriculum and course infrastructures to accommodate the change. Others have decided to opt out of online delivery altogether, preferring to focus on their established on-campus modes of delivery. This paper explores some of the issues and forces that are driving universities throughout Australia and overseas to consider their adoption of online delivery, many of which are economic and societal factors outside their control and traditional areas of expertise.

Keywords: online learning, internet, technology adoption