
Advance HE believes that flexible learning is about empowering students by offering them choices in how, what, when and where they learn: the pace, place and mode of delivery.
Flexible learning requires a balance of power between institutions and students, and seeks to find ways in which choice can be provided that is economically viable and appropriately manageable for institutions and students alike.
Framework for flexible learning in higher education
Our framework for flexible learning in higher education is an integral part of the Advance HE frameWORKS series. Developed with the sector for the sector, the series covers key thematic priorities that impact upon the quality of teaching and learning in HE. Our frameWORKS provide a shared point of reference and common language to shape and review policy, process and practice in order to enhance student success.
“The frameworks are evidence-based and provide the higher education sector with a national reference point to enable the institution to develop its own approach according to local circumstances as well as benchmarking performance.” Universities UK (2016), p.73,Working in partnership: enabling social mobility.

Has your school, faculty or institution identified this as a key strategic priority?
Advance HE, through it's four step process: conceptualising; planning and preparation; implementation, delivery and monitoring, and; completion and closure; can help you to:
- Identify areas of strength and areas for improvement
- Deliver solutions-based change aimed at tackling your issues
- Review the success of any initiatives against KPIs and global frameworks
Key Research
- The pedagogy of the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC): the UK view
- Flexible pedagogies: technology-enhanced learning
- Getting animated about flexible learning
- Exploring and extending flexibility - a reflective framework
- Flexible pedagogies: new pedagogical ideas
- Flexible pedagogies: preparing for the future
- Effective practice in the design of directed independent learning opportunities
- Engaged learning in MOOCs: a study using the UK Engagement Survey
- Student-researched case studies of flexible learning to support flexible learners
- Mapping student-led peer learning in the UK
- Liberating learning: experiences of MOOCs
- 'Shoe-horned and side-lined'?: Challenges for part-time learners in the new HE landscape
- Student champions: A competency framework and process model
- Promoting equality of opportunity through flexible learning