This short chapter is the introduction to all the chapters in the e-University Compendium. Key sections include an overview of the theory of virtual universities and e-universities and a “helicopter view” (or World Tour) of the world of e-universities, followed by a thematic approach to the material. The final key section gives an overview of the everlastingly popular topic of Critical Success Factors for e-universities and foreshadows the benchmarking e-learning work in the 2004-12 era. The chapter is based on work that the author carried out over the 2000–01 period , but reaches back to work at the Open University from 1995 and in fact lays the foundation for a whole range of studies to date including Re.ViCa, VISCED, POERUP, SharedOER, ADOERUP and a growing body of market research. competitor research and country report work for commercial, university and (inter)governmental clients.

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