Models of e-learning adopted in the Middle East

Traditional academic institutions as well as newly established online or hybrid educational organizations in the Middle East (ME) are still in the early phases of trying to get students and their parents to accept and adapt to the concept of e-learning. Different countries and different universities within individual countries within the ME have achieved various levels of success to this regard. While some traditional universities have already started offering a good number of e-learning courses, others are still in the very early stages of setting up such programs. This paper presents a general overview of the current situation of e-learning in the ME. It presents drivers and barriers to e-learning, the different types of e-learning initiatives, steps being taken towards overcoming the challenges, and a possible future of e-learning through a case study of ongoing developments by an authority on e-learning in Saudi Arabia.