The university’s new online learning offering, University of Nottingham Online (UoNO), is preparing for a series of pilots taking place in early 2023.

University of Nottingham Online will deliver small blocks (10 to 20 credits) of competency-based online learning, targeted at a new set of learners where the university currently has very limited reach. Learning will be delivered and assessed entirely online.

Since we announced University of Nottingham Online last year, the project team have had the challenge of creating a new end-to-end and best-in-class online learning experience that meets the expectations of the external market whilst accommodating the diverse needs and expectations of the university. This has led to new thinking and investment spanning how we identify and design the products, how we deliver them to learners and how we ensure that learners’ success is fully recognised.

The initial focus of University of Nottingham Online will be on postgraduate-level learning to support upskilling and reskilling for a professional market. The online learning design and delivery model will provide the flexibility and consistency that is needed so learners can fit study around their work and other commitments.

Business-to-business relationships are currently being developed where employers engage in the development of University of Nottingham Online learning and employees can choose from a range of learning blocks, with the opportunity to complete assessments to gain university credit (stackable micro-credentials). Once a learner has gained sufficient credit, they may be able to apply for a university award.

The project team are working with the Quality Standards Committee (QSC) and colleagues in Regulatory and Statutory Compliance to finalise the regulations needed to ensure a high quality and robust learning experience is delivered that merits the award of university credit.

An overarching roadmap for assurance has been approved and this will be put in place by the end of the 2022/23 academic year. The design and development of learning blocks has been completed and the approach will be piloted in the School of Architecture and Built Environment, the School of Health Sciences, and Digital Marketing (NUBS).

In terms of the enabling services that will support the end-to-end journey for learners, the project team are now in the final stages of procuring a commercial online store to showcase online learning blocks. This will provide a quick and simple route for learners to purchase and join learning cohorts.

The store will be fully integrated with our new Totara learning platform and Mahara e-portfolio software that will enable learners to complete and submit assessments. A proof-of-concept environment has been created with Catalyst which will support the pilots taking place in early 2023.

After a learner successfully completes a block of learning, they will earn a digital badge containing information on the block of learning they have engaged in and the skills they have gained. Our digital badges will be issued by a third-party badging company called Accredible. The combined system will be branded for the university and will provide a modern, fully integrated and seamless learning experience.

The next 12 months will be important for University of Nottingham Online as we move from our pilot phase into our initial delivery phase. A significant scaling up of activity is anticipated in the second half of 2023.

Further information, including opportunities to get involved with University of Nottingham Online, can be found on the SharePoint site. If you have any questions, please email UoN-Online@nottingham.ac.uk.