With decades of experience in teaching histology with the aid of the traditional light microscope at the Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Debrecen, Hungary, we are taking the challenge to introduce virtual histology.

Virtual microscopy is clearly evolving not only in teaching, diagnosis/ teleconsulting but also in research since it has been widely accepted in the late 1990s. How well this new technique can be fitted to teaching of medical and non-medical Hungarian and international students? How is it possible to shift from light to virtual microscopy in a rapid manner? How all this should/will affect or teaching practice, the attitude of students and the way of examination protocols? What other universities' experiences say?

We shall try to summarize our views on the above issues and shall explain our approach to the new era of histology teaching.