CETADL: a research and development facility for e-learning

Just as most large companies have a research and development unit to promote innovation, develop new products and services, and evaluate designs, so universities entering the global market for electronic learning need facilities to research, develop and test new approaches to technology-mediated teaching and learning. This is the function of the Centre for Educational Technology and Distance Learning (CETADL) at the University of Birmingham (UK). The paper gives an overview of the Centre, in terms of how its structure and operation address general requirements for the design of a research facility for e-learning in higher education.