Over the years, online distance learning has become less and less the exclusive domain of a small number of universities…we are entering a new chapter, one that might over time lead to a changing of the landscape.

It has been fascinating to observe 2U’s growing footprint in UK higher education against the backdrop of very transparent and widely publicised financial turmoil.

No one out there is saying what we really need is to add some more years to degree courses and make them longer. All the movement has been toward shorter courses and programmes.

What is evident in the UK context is that THE have not consulted with the growing number of senior online education professionals and leaders when developing this ranking.

My first reflection on this piece is that the discussion actually revolves around blended learning or some form of digitally facilitated learning, rather than fully online distance courses that lack any in-person component.

The worry in the current climate is that universities are more susceptible to being seduced by alluring targets and projections that aren’t grounded in reality.

Ultimately, when it comes to creating great online learning experiences there’s a lot that goes into it and it all matters.

Despite business and management being a popular area for online education, particularly for postgraduate education, there are still quite a number of UK universities’ business schools that haven’t entered the online distance market. Given the popularity and association business and management courses have with online education, it’s striking when a business school has not moved into online education at all yet.

Changing times are exerting pressure on individuals pursuing undergraduate degrees through traditional means. Students face an existential housing crisis, rising cost-of-living, and the need to balance significant work commitments. Increasing the availability of online undergraduate options is about offering greater choice and access, not about competition between traditional and online education.

The news and announcements from the early part of this year highlight yet again, that despite turbulence in the online education company sector, there is still demand for partnerships with OPMs among universities. Universities are still seeking help to successfully navigate the online education landscape and in offering online degrees.

If we continue to see students' needs and demographics change, then the sector and the regulator will need to get to grips with an understanding of blended learning that results in a reduced place and time-based commitment.

While some continue the futile debate over whether online education is as effective as on-campus education, it's clear that on-campus education can learn much from its online counterpart in offering an accessible, appealing, and contemporary educational experience.

Ultimately, the path ahead for online education in the UK is one of more subtle shifts and ongoing developments, but year-on-year it’s playing an increasing role in reshaping UK higher education.

Rankings are a type of shortcut we use in decision-making, and a high-profile ranking like this is going to be used by people who are unlikely to scrutinise the methodology but take it on trust.

Coventry University’s foray into online education could serve as a cautionary tale for the increasing number of UK universities aiming to develop an online education portfolio and attract a substantial number of online students.

The landscape of online education companies and OPMs continues to be turbulent and a topic of much discussion. There is, however, more to this sector than the financial headlines that often dominate.

Although I’ve painted a modest picture in terms of the growth and scope of potential opportunities in the online undergraduate market, some of these developments show this isn’t a static area. It’s a market to navigate carefully in terms of identifying and grasping opportunities.

What’s clear is that the growth in senior online education roles within UK universities is more than a trend, it's a significant indicator of the growing importance of online education.

These developments all add to the tapestry of online education and it’s in new and different approaches to subject areas, less associated with online learning, where illumination can be found for those of us working in this field and any stale orthodoxies challenged.

One of the challenges with digital technologies in education is how they are utilised and most importantly what informs their use. Education is replete with bad and ill-informed ideas - if AI is built upon these or implemented in sympathy with them - we’ll fail our learners.