The Open University, Trinity College Dublin and University College London, are putting their lectures onto iTunes. Educational content is currently available in the US via the non-charging iTunes U section of the popular music downloading service. However, European universities are now joining in to provide video and audio material for students to use on computers or iPods. The service will comprise recordings of lectures from many leading academics.

Professor Peter Mobbs, University College London (UCL) states.

Our students will now be able to revisit material that is presented to them in lectures. So they can learn anywhere and anytime.

The service is nothing but ‘lecture on demand’. The UCL’s initial offerings will comprise materials about neuroscience, ‘lunch time lectures’ of the university plus an audio news round-up. The Open University has promised to make available around 300 video and audio files with material from current courses.

These lectures will be available from iTunes U. last summer, Apple computers had launched iTunes U as a free offering; an education area as part of the iTunes online music plus video store.