James Cook University takes a fresh approach to flexible study

The way students embark on a university education is rapidly changing—whether students study domestically or internationally, virtually or in-person, full-time or part-time—student life has become irreversibly complex. In other words, flexible study is here to stay, and a fully integrated digital learning experience is fundamental to facilitating flexible study for students.

One university pioneering study options to match the myriad of circumstances students find themselves in nowadays is James Cook University (JCU). Determined to meet students’ ever-changing needs, JCU has launched its program JCU Flex.

Placing students at the centre of the entire university experience has been JCU’s approach to digital transformation. Having already transitioned from on-premise to SaaS, with the TechnologyOne solution OneEducation, JCU has integrated its systems across the entire enterprise.

With a strong digital footprint powered by SaaS, JCU has taken flexible learning a step further than most universities—JCU Flex offers students in some faculties the ability to diversify their learning modes to match their needs and external commitments. Lectures and tutorials can be live streamed, watched on-demand or attended in-person.

“It’s a step ahead of studying remotely, which is what a lot of other universities are doing,” says JCU Chief Digital Officer Geoff Purcell. “The JCU Flex subjects are taught in much smaller, more intimate spaces than large lecture theatres.”

The university uses multiple cameras for flex classes so students feel as if they’re in the room. It provides an equivalent experience regardless of the modality chosen by the student to participate in the class.

JCU Flex also enables cross-campus teaching across JCU’s four campuses in Cairns, Townsville, Brisbane or Singapore, as classes in one location are streamed across the other three. Students can also study a year at each campus if they wish.

To further enrich the student experience, with cross-cultural learning, JCU also encourages students at its North Queensland campuses to do a trimester or even a term in Singapore in the same course. “We think that’s offering an international flavour to the North Queensland experience that we haven’t traditionally offered,” says Mr Purcell.

The seamless connectivity of SaaS enables JCU to deliver its students a world-class digital experience from wherever they are—anywhere, anytime, on any device.

Having gone live with TechnologyOne Financials and Student Management, JCU’s has set an ambitious roadmap of additional features to further enhance the entire student journey, from enrolment to graduation. This move sees TechnologyOne taking primary responsibility for the platform’s security, maintenance and upgrades—empowering the JCU to focus on the student experience, while eliminating unexpected IT overheads.

Through its focused approach to digital transformation, JCU is revolutionising the student experience and re-defining flexible study,

According to Chandan Potukuchi, Chief Technology Officer at TechnologyOne, JCU is a great example of an institution that is connecting with its students.

While the domestic market for students remains competitive, universities need to make their technology and applications highly engaging for students, he said.

Previously, students chose their university based on where their parents studied or where their friends were going, but student demands have now changed.

“It’s now about the experience they’re getting at institutions. They want to go to an institution that has a richness of technology, a simple offer, a balance of online and on premise,” says Mr Potukuchi. “Universities want to make sure their offering is really streamlined, and that they are digitally ahead of the curve and JCU is a great example of that.”