PurposeAccording to Fee (2009), e-learning systems have three components: technology, learning content and e-learning design. Few studies have examined e-learning design as an educational process, although universities are increasingly using e-learning as they become more entrepreneurial. This article aimed to investigate how universities approach e-learning design.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a mixed methods approach. First, the authors carried out a quantitative analysis of the websites of the top 100 European universities in the Quacquarelli Symonds Ranking. The authors then moved to a qualitative approach, analyzing a pilot case and three case studies. Semistructured interviews were conducted with managers of e-learning services at the chosen European universities.FindingsThe 100 best European universities in the Quacquarelli Symonds Rankings all use e-learning methods. The case study universities were selected from this list. The semistructured interviews with managers of e-learning services highlighted the importance of the design of e-learning courses. However, most focused on the professional figures involved, rather than the process for e-learning and the overall design of the course.Originality/valueThe article provides a detailed study of e-learning design in an educational context. The analysis of multiple case studies allowed the authors to identify how the selected universities carry out didactic design activity through the use of technology. It therefore contributes to knowledge of cases of digital academic entrepreneurship.

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The COVID-19 era has forced us to reduce our face-to-face interactions. For this reason, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have substituted this direct relationship among people. One tool able to support health authorities by monitoring and mitigating the ongoing COVID-19 is Mobile Applications (mApps). They have also facilitated follow-up among patients and practitioners and provided direct guidance to citizens, so they can play their part in the control of the disease. The main purpose of this paper is to understand and analyse the features and functionalities of the COVID-19 mApps currently available in the widely used smartphone applications stores, such as Play Store and iTunes. The first results obtained at this stage of the research have permitted us to give a preliminary taxonomy of the mApps, specifically concerning COVID health management in Italy. The research found 71 mApps operating in the principal stores, focusing on the underlining features and aspects useful for making users more responsible and enabling self-management regarding their own health. MApps in the COVID period could represent organisational support for maintaining a useful relationship among patients and health operators concerning health care assistance. To do this, it is necessary to determine optimal capabilities and evaluate the utility and clinical benefit of these tools. Doing this, we have been able to recognise and obtain the first data and information through this research.

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The article aims to provide a literature review on e-learning and e-learning design in the university context. The aim, more precisely, is to investigate the type of attention that researchers give to e-learning and e-learning design and what are the next trends in e-learning in the university context. The literature review focused on the analysis of two international journals: Internet and Higher Education (I&HE) and Computer & Education (C&E). These journals have been selected from an international ranking on the SCImago Journal & Country Rank (SJR) portal. The investigation takes place at two specific times: (1) a first selection based on keywords on the journal sites; (2) a second selection phase to choose the most consistent studies through abstract analysis. This research makes it possible to contribute, through a review of the literature, to make a mapping of the evolution of e-learning design and elearning studies within universities at international level, taking as a survey reference a fairly long period of time in the analysis of the articles (from 1997 to 2018).