Summary

Case Studies in Education is a new series of key papers focusing on innovations and challenges in education. Each case study presents and analyses a pertinent educational issue in a timely and brief manner.The series marks an important contribution to educational advancement of benefit to countries, agencies and organisations within the Commonwealth and beyond.One of the most impressive innovations to have emerged as a means of helping to deal with crisis in higher education in Africa is the concept of a virtual university. This takes the existing models of an Open University and extension learning one stage further by providing links that enable learners to take courses from overseas institutions as well as from the local university.This case study relates to the pilot phase of the African Virtual University at Kenyatta University in Kenya. It provides one of the few available insights into the reality of how the AVU has progressed in terms of concept, strategy and practice. It describes and analyses key issues regarding courses offered, operational economics, practical difficulties and growing institutionalisation of the AVU as an integral part of higher education in Kenya. It therefore provides a crucial source of information and evidence on how the concept of a virtual university is being translated into reality in the context of an African country.