BPP University College

BPP is a private provider which has held degree awarding powers since 2007. It was granted university college status in July 2010, becoming the only private for-profit provider to be granted this status. Approximately 8,000 students are currently enrolled on BPP Award programmes. Approximately 400 are part time and 300 are distance-learning students.

In 2007, BPP piloted the presentation of all materials online, including extras such as online lectures (downloadable recordings of the live lectures), online independent tutorials (versions of the tutorials students could work through in their own time) and online catch-up classes (using synchronous classroom technology, where students are working at the same time as each other). When asked what was the best aspect of studying at BPP the top response was the e-learning – and this came from students who studied primarily face-to-face, but also online. Asked why they chose BPP, the following year's intake responded that the online learning/resources was the second most important reason. This suggested that online learning and resources are not just for online students – they can be crucial aspects of learning for all students.

As a result, BPP developed an online learning strategy that is designed to assist all students. Online resources are fully comprehensive, meaning all materials are available online, consistently across all modules. All readings, lectures, seminar/tutorial instructions, assessments etc. are available to all students on any given module, providing 100 per cent consistency of resources and instructions. All students need to visit the virtual learning environment (VLE) every week in order to plan their study. This means that the VLE is now the central spine of the student learning experience. All BPP students are therefore described as online students.

The pedagogical approach is based on the need for students to interact with each other and the tutor in weekly structured seminars, whether students are face-to-face or online. Students can participate in their weekly seminars in three ways: face-to-face, with students and the tutor present together at the same time and in the same place; 'realtime' classes, using synchronous class technology (students and tutor attend at the same time but from anywhere in the world where they have an internet connection); and 'yourtime' classes, asynchronous classes in which students can attend from anywhere with an internet connection and at a time/s to suit them (the most flexible option). The classroom is a wiki/blog/discussion board open for five days a week.

All seminars work through the same questions in the same weeks so they are fully synchronised. Everyone does the same assessments and markers are unaware of what type of student they are grading. This consistency gives very high flexibility. Students can choose different seminar experiences for each module and attend alternative classes in any given week with the tutor's permission. This approach gives students the chance to customise their learning experience according to their changing circumstances over the course of a programme, and enables BPP to work with employers to choose the best combination for their needs.

What started as the online learning strategy is now called the Integrated Learning Strategy and is being implemented as part of BPP's approach in designing degrees.