The increasing use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in higher education has led to important changes resulting in greater weight being placed on the virtual component of emerging methods of teaching and learning. E-learning is expanding globally, with new forms of delivery of higher education and relevant developments – such as MOOCs – that are transforming some of the main foundations of the traditional university and may be the prelude to a new higher education paradigm. These developments represent an opportunity for Latin America, as e-learning has the potential to increase access to higher education, improve its quality and strengthen links with the productive sectors. However, the relatively low incorporation of ICTs in the region as well as the risks associated with these emerging trends need to be borne in mind.