This post shares what we learned when we deliberately designed a demo course — Principles of Responsible Management — using a GPT-based AI assistant trained in our own pedagogical approach. Our aim was to test whether AI could support a structured, theoretically grounded design process suitable for UK higher education at postgraduate level. And what we found was that it didn’t just help us start — it helped us start well and keep going.
Read MoreUniversities across the UK are under increasing pressure to grow digital provision—fast. But while the ambition is there, the implementation is often where things fall down. Questions crop up like:
Do we have the internal expertise to design and deliver high-quality online courses?
Can we scale recruitment and student support without an OPM’s infrastructure?
What’s the cost difference between doing it all ourselves vs. outsourcing some parts?
How do we avoid building an internal model that becomes unmanageable or underused?
This framework helps answer those questions by providing a structure to assess your institution’s readiness, capabilities, and priorities.
Read MoreHigher education is evolving rapidly, and micro-credentials are at the forefront of this transformation. Designed to provide flexible, skills-focused, and stackable learning, micro-credentials allow universities to engage a wider audience, align with industry needs, and support lifelong learning.
For university leaders—deans, pro-vice chancellors, heads of learning, programme directors, and course developers—the question is no longer if micro-credentials should be introduced, but how to do so effectively.
Read MoreAs universities expand their digital offerings, end-to-end online degree programme development has become a critical priority. Whether launching a single online programme or rolling out multiple new programmes, institutions must balance strategic planning, pedagogical excellence, learner engagement, and scalability.
At Learning Design Solutions (LDS), we specialise in helping universities create high-quality, market-driven, and globally accessible online degree programmes. Our expertise spans from strategic planning and programme visioning to full-scale course development, media production, and learning experience design.
Read MoreThe professional education landscape is evolving rapidly, and chartered institutions must adapt to stay ahead. Transitioning professional qualifications, CPD programmes, and training courses to online learning is no longer optional—it’s essential. A digital-first approach ensures greater accessibility, engagement, and scalability, but without the right strategy, institutions risk diminishing the effectiveness of their teaching.
At Learning Design Solutions, we specialise in guiding chartered bodies through this transformation, ensuring that online learning maintains the rigour, interactivity, and high-quality standards expected from professional education.
Read More
