It has become a point of banality to remark on the changes that technological developments have wrought. More directly, however, technology has made possible a revolution in distance education that has important implications for the accreditation of educational institutions and assurance of quality in such circumstances. Technology is also beginning to have an impact on teaching and learning in traditional universities. It is also a truism that this technology is expensive, subject to rapid obsolescence, and requires high initial investment simply to get into the game. For many developing countries, cost is at present prohibitive, and it is precisely these areas where technology can provide the greatest short-term improvement.
Technology is also central to the communication, storage, and retrieval of knowledge.
The traditional library is being revolutionized by web-based information systems, as are the management systems of many universities. Technology is the least understood of the issue clusters discussed here, and perhaps the one with the greatest potential for transforming higher education. We have noted in passing the increase in the number of internationally mobile students. While this is an exciting and important trend, it is not without some important consequences. As the market for individuals with transnational competencies have grown, so have opportunities for individuals with marketable skills in other countries.