A Strategic University-Wide Initiative to Introduce Programs of Study Using Flexible Delivery Methods

In 1997, the University of Queensland (http://www.uq.edu.au) made a commitment to move to flexible modes of delivery of programs of study from a largely face-to-face model of delivery. This change was linked to the opening of a new campus, as well as recognition of a need for change in current teaching practice. This led to a university-wide response to reassess current practice in order to be able to develop, implement, and deliver services and programs of study more effectively and appropriately to the students. This paper reports the process of implementing a university-wide response for flexible delivery that includes discipline-specific faculty development, design, development, and production of flexible learning materials, and the development of administrative and student-support services to meet the different requirements of the students.