The paper describes a project at the School of Nursing at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban South Africa to increase access to university based education through the use of videoconference specialist education for nurses in rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal. Objectives: To evaluate the perceptions of lecturers and participants on the use of video-conferencing for nurse education. METHODOLOGY: Two surveys were conducted: a perceptions survey with lecturers of the School of Nursing and an initial and second survey with participants of a pilot advanced midwifery education programme conducted by video-conferencing. RESULTS: Both participants and lecturers had very little prior experience of video-conferencing, but felt that it would increase access for rural nurses to high quality specialist education. Concerns were mainly about technical issues in running and conducting the sessions and the application of progressive education strategies using this technology CONCLUSION: Videoconferenced academic specialist nursing programs would provide technology enhanced learning for remote nurses in KwaZulu-Natal, but for optimal use, the presenters need to be trained in the use of VC
