Modern Economy, 2013, 4, 633-638 http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/me.2013.410068 Published Online October 2013 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/me) Technologies Needed for Sustainable E-Learning in University Education N. E. Ibezim Department of Vocational Teacher Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria Email: nnenna.ibezim@unn.edu.ng Received July 16, 2013; revised August 15, 2013; accepted August 25, 2013 Copyright © 2013 N. E. Ibezim. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. ABSTRACT This study was carried out to identify technologies needed for sustainable e-learning in university education. To achieve this objective, two research questions and one hypothesis were formulated, answered and tested respectively. Survey research design was used and a structured questionnaire was developed for data collection. A population of 330 infor- mation managers in information system units in federal universities in Nigeria was used for the study. The questionnaire was face-validated by three experts knowledgeable in e-learning application. An internal consistency co-efficient of 0.88 was obtained by using Cronbach alpha technique. Data collected from 322 of the respondents were analyzed for the study. Mean and standard deviation were used in data analysis, while ANOVA was used to test the hypothesis. The findings of the study revealed 13 communication technologies and 12 course management technologies needed for sus- tainable e-leaning in university education; and that there were no significant differences on the opinions of the informa- tion managers on 19 technologies needed for sustainable e-learning in university education. It was therefore recom- mended that the administrations of university education should make the identified technologies sufficiently available in order to sustain e-learning in the universities. Keywords: Technologies; E-Learning; University Education 1. Introduction University education, synonymous with tertiary educa- tion or higher education, is an educational level that fol- lows the completion of a school providing a secondary education. It is usually referred to as the third level edu- cation and includes teaching, research, exacting applied work such as in the medical schools, and social service activities of universities. Within the realm of teaching, university education includes both the undergraduate and the graduate-level or postgraduate level for qualified students who wish to go further in their education and skills development [1]. These descriptions of the univer- sity education suggest that it has a wide range of students to attend to and thus requires suitable technologies that would satisfy the needs of these various classes of stu- dents. Technology, according to Schatzberg [2], is the mak- ing, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures involved in meeting a need. In the context of this study, technology refers to all the methods, tools, machinery and procedures that will enhance university education. In this 21 st century, one of the tools used to enhance university education is the e-learning services. E-learning as recorded by Mayadas in Oakley [3] is a learning proc- ess in which learners can communicate with their in- structors and their peers, and access learning materials, over the internet or other computer networks. E-learning is the application of the internet to support the delivery of learning skills and knowledge using a holistic approach which may not be limited to a particular course, technol- ogy or infrastructure. It provides flexibility which allows for just-in-time training when and where they are needed. E-learning creates room for integration into work place in terms of relevance, access to experts and collaboration for team working. Furthermore Curran [4], have defined e-learning as an innovative approach for delivering elec- tronically mediated, well designed learner-centered and interactive learning environments to anyone, anyplace, and anytime by utilizing the internet and digital tech- nologies in consonant with instructional design principles. E-learning brings proven benefits to students and lectur- Copyright © 2013 SciRes. ME