Australian academic use of the Internet: implications for university administrators

Reports on the first-ever nationwide quantitative survey of academic staff use of the Internet. After briefly noting reasons for adopting a mailed-out survey, the article discusses some of the results obtained. These include daily use of e-mail, access to the Internet via remote dial-in services and technical support provided to academics. More than one-third of respondent s seem in need of more training in Net use and time limitations and lack of training are typical barriers to effective use. The study concludes with o pportunities for further research at both national and international levels and discusses possible implications for university administrators. The ful l report of the study is published as Academics Online (Auslib Press, Adela ide, 1998). The research team also included Edna Sharpe of the Australian Q uarantine and Inspection Service.