This work-in-progress examines issues relevant to managing the integration of IT into the higher education curriculum. A conceptual framework for IT professional development in higher education at both organisational and individual levels is presented and a case study is detailed of the framework-in-action at Macquarie University. The case study describes the aims, plans and initial activities of a 1998-99 CUTSD funded project; 'Developing Capacity to Integrate IT into Higher Education Teaching and Learning'.

Diffusion theory indicates that new technology adoption starts with enthusiastic innovative early-adopters and then moves, but only if use of the new technology continues to increase, across the 'chasm' from early-adopter to mainstream use.

Within higher education IT use has now crossed into the mainstream and successfully managing staffs' continued IT 'chasm crossing' is crucial for the future well-being of all educational organisations. The literature suggests that IT is enabling these major trends and changes to higher education;

• flexible delivery
  
• shift from transmission of information to facilitation of student-centred learning
  
• development of skills of information literacy and life-long learning
  
• transformation of the administration of higher education
  
• global trend towards the commercialisation of knowledge
  
• diversity of higher education offerings and providers

These IT enabled trends and changes create the urgent strategic need for new knowledge and skills to be learnt by all higher education staff. Major organisational and individual learning outcomes need to be managed and facilitated through various professional development strategies.

The work-in-progress will present the authors' conceptual framework for IT professional development, as developed and practiced at Macquarie University, to support both organisational and individual learning outcomes. The paper will explain the framework and its theoretical basis.

This framework is informing a major IT professional development program at Macquarie - a 1998-99 CUTSD Staff Development funded project; 'Developing Capacity to Integrate IT into Higher Education Teaching and Learning'.

The project aims to support the development and implementation of a coherent program of professional development to improve the capacity of all Schools and Units to explore and introduce IT effectively into their programs and activities.

The work-in-progress will detail the strategies, plans and initial activities of the Project. The authors' intend to present a follow-up paper in 1999 presenting the activities and outcomes of the later stages of the Project.