Recommendations for Promoting E-learning in Higher Education Institutions: A Case Study of Iran

This paper intends to offer recommendations for promoting e-learning in higher education institutions in developing countries in general, and in Iran in particular. For this, 279 recommendations were extracted through the investigation of 11 countries and 5 regions. Using content analysis, 23 recommendations were selected and then categorized into five groups: infrastructures and technology; human resources; network enablers; curriculum design; and cooperation. Afterwards, a survey was conducted and the recommendations fitting with Iran's internal situation were offered. These recommendations were prioritized on the basis of three criteria: experts' opinions, the frequency of presentation of the recommendations in various countries, and whether or not the recommendations have already been implemented in Iran. Meanwhile, with respect to their priority, they were divided into three categories: necessary and urgent, necessary and not urgent, and specific to Iran. Higher Education Policy (2011) 24, 103-126. doi: 10.1057/hep.2010.27