eUniversity. A research project on teaching innovation in Italian universities.

This paper represents the results of the research entitled “eUniversity - Information and Communication Technology” as a factor of change in Italian Universities, funded by the Italian Department of Education, University and Research (MIUR) and carried out between November 2003 and November 2005. One of the eight Local Research Units that took part in the project was co-ordinated by the University of Trento and included the University Cattolica del Sacro Cuore of Milan, the University of Perugia and the University of Sassari. The aim of the four universities was to put together a description that could help us to understand if, and how, Italian universities are changing due to the spread of ICTs. The paper shows some of the results obtained through the research carried out at the University of Trento. In particular it highlights the factors that encourage/hinder the adoption of eLearning on the part of lecturers. The paper concludes by introducing the parameters that need to be considered by an academic institution that wishes to establish a clear, shared and systematic action plan involving the whole university and which will allow them to effectively plan and manage the integration of ICT in academic teaching according to their own needs.