In 2023, the University of St. Andrews, a 650-year-old institution known for its academic excellence, decided to offer online short courses as part of its wider vision to cater to non-traditional, lifelong learners worldwide.
To manage and deliver these courses, St. Andrews needed a solution that could seamlessly integrate with their existing systems while providing a distinct and tailored experience for non-traditional learners. After looking at other potential providers, they selected Canvas LMS, the world’s leading online educational platform, paired with Eduframe by Drieam —the Continuing Education Storefront and Student Information System purpose-built for Canvas.
The Need: Balancing Tradition and Innovation
St. Andrews faced the challenge of launching online short courses while retaining the unique DNA of its renowned on-campus offerings.
The university identified six key requirements:
- Enrollment Management: A separate set-up to manage non-traditional learner enrollments distinct from matriculated students.
- Seamless Integration: The platform needed to integrate with Canvas LMS and existing IT systems, including the WPM payment provider.
- Superior Learner Experience: The digital course storefront had to reflect the university’s brand and provide an exceptional user experience.
- Adaptive Learning: The platform needed to offer personalised learning pathways.
- Global Reach: The ability to serve a worldwide learner base, allowing for flexible registration , participation and scalable growth
- Automated Certification: The system had to automate issuing digital badges and certificates, reducing administrative workload.
The Solution: Canvas LMS and Eduframe to Support Non-Traditional Learning
After evaluating various solutions, St. Andrews chose Canvas LMS and Eduframe for their scalability and seamless integration. This combination offered a comprehensive, end-to-end solution tailored to the needs of non-traditional learners.
Canvas LMS delivers a high-quality learning experience with a user-friendly interface, while Eduframe manages the administrative and eCommerce aspects, offering a customisable storefront that aligns with the university’s brand.
The integration between Canvas and Eduframe ensures a smooth learner journey —from course registration to completion. Grades are automatically synced from Canvas to Eduframe, which then issues certificates and digital badges, streamlining the administrative process.
The Results: Lifelong Learning with A Community Impact
In September 2023, St. Andrews successfully launched its first three online short courses, marking a pivotal step in their digital transformation. The pilot was well-received, leading to rapid expansion. By 2025, the university aims to offer around 40 online short courses, significantly enhancing its educational reach.
One notable success of this initiative has been the university’s ability to contribute to the local community by offering free courses aimed at upskilling individuals in digital skills. This collaboration with local government and businesses has been a cornerstone of St. Andrews' community engagement.
Looking ahead, St. Andrews plans to further expand its digital offerings, potentially extending innovative approaches tested with short-course learners to their traditional student base. The university’s adoption of Canvas and Eduframe not only supports its current goals but also positions it for future growth, ensuring that it continues to deliver a highquality learning experience that meets the demands of modern education.
What the University of St Andrews liked was that Eduframe & Canvas has been a complete package. Eduframe seamlessly integrates with Canvas LMS. We can manage all the non-traditional learner records in Eduframe while using Canvas as our learning management system
Andrew Wilson
Enterprise Architect, St Andrews University.
Download Case Study