Imagine, if you will, a world where individual academics work in isolation from one another. Each attracting a greater or lesser number of students according to their reputation and tailoring course content to ensure that student fees continue to flow in. Students drop out of courses when they have met their immediate needs and feel employable – or when they become dissatisfied with their experience – and only a small number ever graduate. Despite claims to the contrary, each academic uses the same published materials, and works in a very similar way. David Kernohan, Jisc’s programme manager e-learning, shares his thoughts.