A team at the University of Sheffield within the Faculty of Heath has been awarded a prestigious Blackboard Catalyst Award for ‘Teaching Excellence’ in recognition of its innovative approach to designing and delivering a new online postgraduate programme, the MSc Health and Clinical Research Delivery (HCRD).
The award celebrates the team’s work in developing the course from the ground up within a newly migrated virtual learning environment, Blackboard Ultra. Built specifically for an online setting, the multidisciplinary cross faculty team, led by Programme Director Jennifer Read co-designed the MSc with external stakeholders and students to provide an inclusive, accessible and engaging learning experience for a diverse, global cohort of students, including clinicians whose professional commitments require flexible study options.
By rethinking how postgraduate education can be delivered online, the team has helped to break down traditional barriers to access and participation, creating a strong international learning community and establishing a widely recognised example of effective digital teaching practice.
A range of design strategies were embedded into the course to support busy, geographically dispersed healthcare professionals. These included structured weekly Learning Modules designed to reduce cognitive load and help students manage complex content alongside clinical workloads. A standardised institutional template was used to ensure consistency across modules, with materials released in sequential blocks to support progression and reduce overwhelm.
Accessibility and inclusion were central to the course design. The team integrated Blackboard Ally as an automated quality assurance system, enabling continuous improvement of learning materials. Staff responded to Ally feedback to raise average module accessibility scores from 54% to 84%, with some modules reaching up to 97%. Students were also able to access alternative formats such as audio and tagged PDFs, allowing them to engage with content in ways that suited their individual circumstances.
To strengthen social presence and reduce the sense of isolation often associated with online study, the team enhanced Blackboard Ultra with an in-house “Widgetiser” tool. This allowed teaching staff with no coding experience to embed interactive elements such as “Tutor Says” panels and “Talking Thumbnails,” helping to humanise the digital environment and support student connection.
Active learning was also embedded throughout the course. Ultra-based knowledge checks were integrated directly into learning materials, offering unlimited formative attempts to build confidence. These activities also generated real-time insights into student understanding, enabling staff to identify and respond to areas where additional support was needed.
Luke Miller, Digital Learning Advisor, said: “It feels fantastic to win this award. It's great for the team to be recognised for all the hard work that has gone into building this successful new MSc Health and Clinical Research Delivery course. The award highlights how the University of Sheffield is a key player in delivering world class online education for its students.”
Jennifer Read, HCRD Programme Director says “I am incredibly proud of our team's hard work and efforts breaking down the traditional barriers to online student access and participation. Securing international recognition for our efforts and expertise is a fantastic achievement - one that underlines the impact of our work in this vitally important area”
The recognition reflects the University of Sheffield’s ongoing commitment to innovation in digital education, teaching and its role in expanding access to high-quality postgraduate training for healthcare professionals worldwide.