Teacher Education Through Flexible Learning: Lessons Learned from a Leading African Open Distance e-Learning Institution

Abstract

The University of South Africa (UNISA) is the largest higher education institution (HEI) in Africa. In fact, UNISA is one of the largest and leading open-distance e-learning (ODeL) institutions in the world and is reputable for its commitment to providing increased access to quality education and flexible teaching. Therefore, UNISA presents a unique context for exploring teacher education through flexible learning. To this end, the current research was conducted between February and May of 2025 and explored the role of flexible learning in teacher education at an influential model in the Global South. The rationale for this research was grounded in the need to address educational challenges in Africa through innovative teaching methods. Employing systematic document analysis and governed by the principles of grounded theory in the collection and analysis of data, this study aimed to explore UNISA’s provision of flexible teacher education. The findings revealed that flexible teacher education in Africa is a necessity and a complex undertaking. It is shaped by demographic pressures, economic constraints, historical inequalities, and crisis events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Flexible learning expands access, reduces costs, and offers opportunities for curriculum transformation. Its effectiveness, however, is constrained by systemic challenges, including digital inequalities, resistance to pedagogical change, and limitations in institutional capacity. A key contribution of this research is the development of an emerging theory that reveals that flexible education is a balancing act between expanding access and maintaining quality.