Massey secures Gold in 2024 Times Higher Education Online Learning Rankings

THE’s Online Learning Rankings represent a groundbreaking effort to evaluate online learning on a global scale. This initiative focuses on the critical elements that contribute to effective online education, placing particular emphasis on the teaching excellence of online programs rather than solely on the technical capabilities for delivering courses.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas says the recognition for Massey’s exemplary teaching is testament to the collective dedication and efforts of staff members involved in fostering student success.

"We are immensely proud to receive the Gold rating in the Times Higher Education Online Learning Rankings. This achievement reflects our commitment to providing outstanding online education, and further cements our status as a leading online education provider in Aotearoa New Zealand.

“It’s fantastic to see this recognition for online learning as a legitimate and worthy counterpart to campus-based education, deserving of equal ranking and respect. We are excited to continue building on this success to further enhance the quality and accessibility of online education at Massey."

Professor Thomas highlights that Massey has been delivering distance learning for more than 60 years, with the first extramural students receiving bulk photocopied course materials and textbooks in the post.

In 2024, nearly two-thirds of Massey students studied one or more courses by distance (64.9 per cent). The percentage of Māori and Pacific students who study by distance is even higher. In 2024, more than eight out of every ten Māori and Pacific students studied one or more courses by distance (83.1 and 82.5 per cent respectively). This underscores the critical role of distance education in promoting inclusivity in education. The flexibility inherent in distance education enables students to pursue their studies while juggling work and family responsibilities.

To participate in this inaugural international ranking, the university provided comprehensive information regarding online student demographics, programmes and resources, which encompass staff, financial support and online assistance. Additionally, a survey designed and analysed by THE, was distributed to students enrolled in online courses to measure their learning experience.

Similar to other THE rankings, the Online Learning Rankings are based on four essential pillars:

• Resources (35 per cent) – the level of resources devoted to online learning
• Engagement (25 per cent) – the level of student engagement in online learning  
• Outcomes (15 per cent) – the outcomes for students participating in online learning  
• Environment (25 per cent) – the environment in which the online learning takes place

This recognition reflects Massey’s commitment to online education as well as its continual pursuit of excellence in delivering quality learning experiences.

See the Online Learning Rankings 2024 results here.