THE University of Bolton has been awarded £4.5 million to increase the use of computer-based learning across Britain.

Experts will use the money to set up a national network based in Bolton to be used by educational institutions with students over the age of 16. The university will then give advice and support to those using the network.

The contract follows a plan proposed by European universities last year to increase the use of e-Learning. Universities say computer-based learning has a major role in most of their courses.

Bolton University was awarded the contract for the Centre for Educational Technology and Interoperability Standards (CETIS) by the Joint Information Systems Committee, a group of British managers, academics and technology experts in further and higher education.

The network would allow for "distance learning" and the enroling of more students. Online courses eLearning are believed to be the future for higher and further education.

An example of e-Learning could be a biology instructor using a video microscope to capture the lifecycle of a cell, then recording an audio commentary and putting the package online.

Bolton's team will also represent the UK on international standards bodies such as the global Information Management in Schools consortium, which tries to create better communication systems for schools in different countries.

Prof Oleg Liber, the new centre's director, said: We are delighted to have been asked to establish this centre.

"Interoperability is key to the viability of eLearning and it is crucial we are able to exploit the potential of new developments in eLearning to enhance education in the 21st century."