Designing online programmes at scale for Walbrook Institute London
A multi-year partnership building a new generation of fully online postgraduate programmes — from a single MBA review to 60+ modules across business, psychology, computer science and education.
About Walbrook Institute London
Walbrook Institute London is a private higher education institution delivering online postgraduate programmes for busy professional learners. Its online provision began with the LIBF online MBA and is expanding into a full suite of fully online master's programmes spanning business, psychology, computer science and education. Walbrook set out to build a new model of online learning — structured, interactive, cohort-based and designed around the needs of working professionals — and partnered with Learning Design Solutions to design and develop it at scale.
The challenge
Walbrook's relationship with LDS began with a review of its existing LIBF online MBA. The MBA already had real strengths — substantial academic content, a consistent module structure, quizzes, case studies, multimedia resources and AI-supported student support. But the review identified a clear opportunity: to move from a content-led model towards a more purposeful online learning journey, with stronger signposting, more chances to apply ideas, and visible connections between learning activities, assessment and professional practice.
That recommendation became the foundation for something much larger. Walbrook wanted to build a new generation of fully online postgraduate programmes — and to do so at a scale, pace and consistency that internal capacity alone could not sustain. Designing one good online module is valuable. Designing a consistent, high-quality model across a full portfolio of postgraduate programmes is a different challenge altogether.
Build a consistent, high-quality model across a full portfolio of postgraduate programmes — not isolated modules.
Maintain momentum through intense launch periods, with multiple modules going live concurrently and on time.
Design for professional online learners who need both flexibility and structure — active learning, not content delivery.
Let each subject area keep its own academic identity within a single, repeatable development model.
Work as an extension of Walbrook's own academic and professional teams — not as an outside vendor handing over files.
Our approach
What began as a focused review grew into a major, multi-year collaboration. The work moved from a single MBA review into end-to-end design and development across a growing suite of programmes — with a repeatable model that keeps quality consistent as the portfolio expands.
The review
Starting pointThe partnership began with a review of Walbrook's existing LIBF online MBA. The key recommendation: move from a content-led model towards a more purposeful online learning journey — clearer routes through the material, stronger signposting, more opportunities to apply ideas, and tighter links between activities, assessment and professional practice. That review became the foundation for a much larger piece of work.
Development begins
March 2025Walbrook appointed LDS to provide end-to-end design and development for its new online programme suite. The first phase covered three major programme areas: the MBA, MSc Psychology and MSc Computer Science.
First modules go live
Jul 2025 – Jan 2026The first MBA module went live in July 2025, followed by the first Psychology module in October 2025 and the first MSc Computer Science module in January 2026. Each module is built as a structured eight-week learning experience for professional learners.
Scaling up
2026In January 2026, eight new modules went live concurrently. The same happened again in February — all developed and delivered on time. To support this volume and pace, the LDS team scaled to around 10 Learning Designers and six technologists and designers, working through a repeatable development pipeline.
Expansion
Through 2027The scope has now grown beyond 60 modules, with MA Education in development and further programmes planned. The collaboration is expected to continue at least until the end of 2027 — long-term partnership work, not a one-off build.
What we built
A consistent model for online postgraduate learning across multiple programme areas — learning design, multimedia production, interactive content, Brightspace development, review processes and project management, brought together into a single coherent approach.
60+ complete modules
15-credit modules across the MBA, MSc Psychology, MSc Computer Science and MA Education — full course architecture designed and built from the ground up.
Eight-week learning design
Each module guides students through weekly content, micro-lectures, readings, activities, reflections, discussions, quizzes and case studies — asking them to think, apply, test, discuss, produce and reflect.
Video & multimedia
Micro-lectures and multimedia resources produced across every module through a managed video production and editorial pipeline.
Brightspace development
Everything designed and built within Walbrook's Brightspace VLE — a consistent, cohort-based experience for every programme.
A repeatable model
Planning, storyboarding, build, academic review, video production, editorial checking and launch — run as a development waterfall so modules progress in parallel.
Quality assurance
Academic review, editorial checking and sign-off built into the process — protecting quality consistently as the portfolio scales.
What the partnership has achieved
The Walbrook collaboration has shown that high-quality online programme development can be both ambitious and scalable — a consistent model for online postgraduate learning across multiple programme areas, delivered at institutional scale.
Up from an initial scope of around 52, and still expanding as new programmes come on stream.
Eight new modules went live in January 2026, and eight again in February — all on time.
MBA, MSc Psychology, MSc Computer Science and MA Education, with further programmes planned.
Quality, collaboration and pace held together even through the most intense launch periods.
Human expertise, supported by AI: the “three voices” model
Each module is shaped by three voices: the academic expertise of the Walbrook Module Author, the learning design expertise of LDS, and the structured support of a Learning Design Expert AI agent. The AI helps draft, analyse, test and iterate — but it supports the process rather than replacing human judgement.
Academic ownership stays with the Module Author. Pedagogic responsibility stays with the Learning Designer. Quality is protected through review, discussion and sign-off. Used this way, AI becomes a design partner rather than a shortcut — keeping the academic and student experience at the centre.
Encouraging early signs
Early feedback has been encouraging. Students who began on the earlier MBA format and transferred into the new cohort-based model have reported high levels of satisfaction and engagement, and have been progressing effectively.
Further student-experience evidence and stakeholder interviews will be added as the partnership continues.
Client perspective
We chose Andrew and LDS to support our online programme development at Walbrook even though we already had an internal, well-oiled online operation, because we knew that we would get high-quality modules and learning materials delivered effectively, promptly and at scale.
Facing a similar challenge?
Whether you're transforming an entire qualification or launching a single programme, we bring the same rigour, expertise, and collaborative approach.
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