What is Virtual University Consortium

Although the phrase “virtual learning environment” (VLE) is commonly used, there are others that point to similar concepts of distance learning (DL), such as telematics learning environments, distributed learning environments, and e-learning; VLEs are online domains allowing both synchronous and asynchronous collaborative interactions among teachers and learners (Barajas, 2002). Briefly, DL and VLE are the mechanism and maintenance of virtual universities (VUs). The Internet-based VLE will gain increasing importance in the future for academic education as well as for lifelong continuing adult education (Hutten, Stiegmaier, & Rauchegger, 2005).