Virtual universities--the reality of e-learning?

With the growth of the internet and world wide web new ways of exchanging information are emerging, barriers are being overcome, new partnerships and ways of working are emerging. Amongst the hype is the notion of a Virtual University; it is hype or reality? What are the issues? A description of a University will not just include the programmes that it delivers but would no doubt include research and the academic environment. This paper raises some of the issues for Health Informatics.