In educating future specialists, institutions of higher education are facing the task not only to define the system of specific tasks but also skills necessary for students to acquire academic competence – ability for successful professional performance – upon graduation. Traditional ways, methods and aids of teaching/learning are not sufficient for students’ competence. E-learning emerges as the most important factor of improving the quality of studies. It is of particular importance for Lithuania to evaluate the impact of e-learning in developing students’ academic competence, as ICT is a quite recent application in the study process in this country in comparison to Western countries. Even though universities in the West are experienced in this field, their experience cannot be transferred to Lithuania for the lack of material, human and other resources.

The analysis of research literature has shown that ICT application for developing students’ academic competence has been analysed by a number of researchers: Meei-Ling Liaw (2006), Brazdeikis (2007), Amhag and Jakobsson (2008), Targamadze and Petrauskiene (2008); Chreptaviciene (2009; 2010), Stankeviciene (Ambrase) et al. (2008, 2009), Madge et al. (2009), Kennelly (2009), Selwyn (2009) et al.

Still, the phenomenon of e-learning has not attracted relevant academic discourse. ICT application in university studies is particularly important, as e-learning is able to develop a new cultural and technological media and, at the same time, lead to successful development of students’ academic competence. This leads to the following research question: cane-learning provide more quality in developing students’ academic competence? 

The aim of the research: to define the potential of developing students’ academic competence with reference to e-learning.

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