Case Study: Edge Hill University achieves an inclusive, accessible and engaging learning environment with Anthology

How Technology Helped Edge Hill University Create an Inclusive and Engaging Learning Environment for All Students

Edge Hill University, a public university in Ormskirk supporting about 18,000 students, faced the challenge of making its digital learning environment inclusive and accessible for a rapidly diversifying student body, including growing international cohorts. To address this, Edge Hill partnered with Anthology and deployed several Anthology products and services—Blackboard (upgraded to Ultra), Anthology Ally, Blackboard Course Catalog, and Anthology Course Design and Development Services—to support learners from pre-arrival through graduation.

Anthology implemented a holistic solution: upgrading the LMS to Blackboard Ultra, enabling alternative formats and accessibility reporting with Anthology Ally, building a mobile-first pre-arrival course via Blackboard Course Catalog, and applying Anthology’s course design best practices. The results were measurable and significant—over 90% of students preferred the Ultra layout and more than 80% found information easier to locate, while the pre-arrival course scored 97% easy to navigate, 95% feeling more prepared, and 94% knowing where to get help—demonstrating Anthology’s clear impact on student engagement and inclusion.

Edge Hill University

Scott Farrow

Head of Digital Learning