New partnership to expand global access to online education

Teesside University Online (TU Online) has announced a strategic partnership with FutureLearn, one of the UK’s leading online learning platforms, to promote a range of 100% online courses to learners worldwide.

This collaboration marks a significant milestone for TU Online, which offers flexible undergraduate, postgraduate, and certificate programmes designed to fit around personal and professional commitments.

With a focus on industry-relevant skills such as digital transformation and project management, TU Online courses are designed to prepare students for the modern workplace while offering a supportive and engaging learning experience.

FutureLearn is renowned for its social learning approach, connecting learners from diverse backgrounds, and offering interactive and accessible education through partnerships with leading universities and organisations.

The platform provides a wide range of short courses, microcredentials, and fully online degrees, catering to learners seeking professional development, lifelong learning, and academic advancement.

TU Online delivers its courses entirely online via the Brightspace virtual learning environment (VLE), a user-friendly VLE that provides interactive learning tools and collaborative spaces. Courses allow students to study from anywhere in the world without the need for campus attendance.

Based in Middlesbrough in the Tees Valley, Teesside University is renowned globally for its innovative teaching and learning and its inclusive approach to education, ensuring that as many people as possible are able to access the benefits of a university degree whatever their situation or background.

This progressive approach to learning has helped it earn the title of Daily Mail Modern University of the Year 2026.

The partnership with FutureLearn will ensure that more learners from across the world will be able to access Teesside’s transformative education.

Emma Adcock, Director of TU Online, said: “We are delighted to be working with FutureLearn.

“They echo our values and aspirations, and it is a reflection of the success Teesside University Online has achieved to date to be selected to join the platform. We have a lot to offer students and it is an exciting time as we embark upon this new partnership together.”

Tom Ramsay, Performance Marketing and Sales Account Manager at FutureLearn, added: “Teesside University is known for its teaching and learning excellence, achieving TEF Gold over the last year, as well as the recent Daily Mail Modern University of the Year award, and is recognised as an established provider of 100% online courses – one of the innovators within this area as they have delivered online and distance learning for decades.

“We are happy to welcome TU Online as they complement and enhance our portfolio.”

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