For the fully online courses, students are required to provide themselves with a system which 

accesses Java and JavaScripting. Extensive use is made of Web based real time chat, as well 

as asynchronous conferencing. Across the range of courses and programs offered online, all 

aspects of the Web are used: presentations, teaching, communication and administration. 

Print is still used on many courses, and set text books are a major component of most courses. 

Tutors mark assignments and examinations, which students must take under proctored 

conditions. Accreditation is provided both at undergraduate and graduate levels. For example, 

there is a B.Sc. in Community Development, and another in Administration. 

The costs of courses varies, but the following is typical: 

$158 per credit for undergraduate courses 

$187 per credit for graduate courses. 

Most courses have fixed start and finish dates, but students registering through the 

Independent Study route can start and finish at their convenience. 

Latin America 

This analysis includes very limited information about Latin American initiatives. There are 

obviously many more initiatives than the few that were found. All four South American 

catalogue entries are from Brazil. These are the Virtual University [16], Universidade Federal 

de Santa Catarina [17], Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro [18], and 

Universidade Virtual [19]. In addition, an interview was conducted with the Virtual University 

of the technological system of Monterrey <133> in Mexico. 

The Virtual University of the technological system of Monterrey <133> is a Education 

Institution based in Teaching   Learning systems that operates throughout the more advanced 

communication technologies and electronic networks. Aiming to support the technological 

campus and to provide training/education in different context in Mexico, Latin America, 

United States of America and Canada the Universidad Virtual (UV) offers courses at 

professional levels, masters and doctorates, and continuing education level. 

The Virtual University [16] (

http://www.ibase.org.br/~ined/

) is supported by the Einstein 

College in Sao Paulo. It has 350 students and 7 courses in Social Behavior, Childcare, and 

Museumology. The Virtual University was founded in 1997 with the intention of providing 

free distance education courses to an open market. The course materials, such as, graphics, 

photos, and other images, are online. The courses can only be accessed using a password. The 

total of registrations is 50 per course and the other candidates will have to register on a 

waiting list. Theses courses could be financed by organizations that have interest in becoming 

part of the process. There is also an online library where subjects and books could be 

consulted; organization and participation in a virtual seminar that discusses basic orientations 

on how to plan, present a research paper and application for project finance. The resources in 

the seminar are e mail and discussion lists. The seminar is opened to any interested person or 

professional. 

The Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro [18] 

(

http://www.maxwell.lambda.ele.puc rio.br

) in Brazil reports to have 110 students in 6 

electrical engineering courses. The Maxwell Project is under development by the Electrical 

Engineering Department. The site has been used as a support to regular undergraduate and 

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