New strategies for the adaptation of higher scientific education to the requirements of the network society are briefly discussed, in particular the pivotal role played by virtual research and learning communities in the Latin American region. The Centro Virtual de Altos Estudios de Altas Energias (CEVALE2VE) is singled out in reference to the virtual graduate course on particle physics that was given at several Venezuelan and Colombian national universities and research institutions during the semesters September 2014-February 2015 and March