Keywords: Inter-university, virtual learning environment, federated approach,
high level architecture, dynamic interoperability, ontology, software agents
Abstract. Virtual learning environments are irreversibly shaping the way of
teaching and learning at universities. They have become more and more popular
as practitioners recognized the advantages virtual learning environments offer
when applied in online teaching and learning. Nevertheless, most of the virtual
learning environments do not provide straightforward support for interuniversity
interoperability between heterogeneous learning environments. This
paper presents a use case of ITC-Euromaster with collaboration concept for inter-
university interoperability. Furthermore, a taxonomy, an ontology and a
high level architecture using intelligent software agents that enable dynamic inter-
university interoperability are proposed to further develop an existing virtual
learning environment used among four European universities.