Tees Business Tees Business issue 17 | Page 68

learning 68 | Tees Business for the modern world Not every learner is able to take advantage of a traditional full-time degree programme. Increasingly learners are having to balance their learning with other commitments, whether that be their job or simply a busy home and personal life. To meet this demand, Teesside University Business School has developed a range of different qualifications which offer flexible learning solutions both for learners and also for employers… New platform empowers distance learning A n innovative new learning platform specifically designed to facilitate the needs and ambitions of the modern student has been launched at Teesside University, as part of its ambitious digital transformation programme. The university has partnered with global software provider D2L to offer a state-of- the-art approach to online learning using its Brightspace platform. The new Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) has been developed in order to meet industry demand for flexible access to learning. Teesside University Business School is offering two courses on the new platform starting in May - its BA (Hons) Business and Enterprise (Top-up) (Online) and its flagship MBA (Online) course, with more courses planned over the coming months. The platform can be accessed via a computer’s internet browser or on a mobile device and offers students the opportunity to study their subjects in their own time through an easy-to-navigate interface. As well as viewing course materials and study aids and accessing scheduled classes and seminars through the platform, students on online learning courses can also contact tutors through digital communications channels. The platform aligns with Teesside University’s Future Facing Learning strategy, which has seen it embrace cutting edge technology to change the way that students learn across the whole portfolio of academic courses. Professor Mark Simpson, pro vice- chancellor (learning and teaching), said: “This new platform takes the strengths of our on-campus provision and widens it out to a whole new market, both nationally and internationally. “Our online learning provision provides a flexible learning environment for students, whether they are employees juggling the demands of the modern workplace or part- time or mature learners who wish to study at their own pace. “The VLE experience means they can tailor their learning around their own needs without losing any of the quality of a traditional degree.” Stewart Watts, D2L regional director, said: