Volume 5, Issue 2 Distance Learning 1 SPOTLIGHT ARTICLE Perspectives on E-learning Case Studies From Cyprus Charalambos Vrasidas, Lucy Avraamidou, and Symeon Retalis INTRODUCTION uring the past decade there has been tremendous progress in the advancement of educational technology, making innovative learning solutions such as e-learning and online education increasingly more feasible in many educational settings. In several countries, the use of e-learning has now begun to noticeably contribute to eco- nomic growth. In Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean Sea located at the cross- roads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, many large-scale e-learning initiatives are cur- rently being undertaken by both public and private organizations, establishing the country as a center for education in the region. Between the 1960s and 1990s, educa- tional technology efforts in Cyprus schools were limited to the use of traditional audiovisual equipment and a few educa- tional radio and television programs pro- duced by the government. In recent years, however, considerable efforts have been devoted to promoting lifelong learning and integrating information and commu- D Charalambos Vrasidas, CARDET - University of Nicosia, Metochiou 66, Engomi 2407, Cyprus. Telephone: +357-22461566 ext. 227. E-mail: pambos@cardet.org Lucy Avraamidou, CARDET - University of Nicosia, Metochiou 66, Engomi 2407, Cyprus. Telephone: +357-22461566 ext. 223. E-mail: lucy@cardet.org