Educational technology in higher education has not managed to match the ubiquity of technology in everyday life. Is this because higher education institutions are inherently resistant to change? The organization, structure, culture and climate of higher education institutions reflect the wider agendas of current and predominant practice. They may particularly influence the success or failure of initiatives to establish technology enhanced learning (TEL). This paper reports on analysis of a long term study of change in a UK university, and sets those findings in the context of wider experience across the sector and identifies significant issues which may enable or inhibit success