Abstract
This paper looks at an alternative to the conventional asynchronous based e-learning and explores its potential for meeting both the needs of the growing staff development needs across the African continent...and beyond and the need to satisfy the traditionalists desire for real-time communication. The paper focuses on a recent initiative launched by the University of Bolton (UK) in conjunction with The International College (THINC) Dubai to provide on-line staff development to professionals working across the Arabian Gulf states and North Africa using a synchronous virtual learning environment (VLE).