Evaluating Failure: The Case Of UKeU

The failure of the UK e-university, known as UKeU, is an interesting case study for evaluating the effectiveness of ICT. Useful lessons can be learnt about the scale and focus of successful technologyenhanced learning in HE, and about project management. This case study brings the technological focus up-to-date with regard to earlier examples used in teaching students about best practise, such as the London Ambulance Service Dispatch system failure of 1992. Of particular interest is the dependence of UKeU on the production of a specialised platform for online learning. The focus on platform development was listed as one of main reasons for failure by the House of Commons Education and Skills Committee which conducted the official inquiry.